H264 QuickTime Black, White, Gamma Levels

Let me start by saying this is a QuickTime issue. I went to the COW to post this but amazingly enough they don't have a Apple QuickTime Forum. My thought was to then post it in COW's After Effects Forum but I figured I'd post it in THIS After Effects Forum since it's - in my opinion - more specialized.
The problem:
On Windows Vista When I take an uncompressed movie rendered from After Effects and export it from QuickTime Player as an H264 movie the black, white and gamma levels are all messed up.
Here is a picture illustrating what I've done to test things.
http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz63/mtrzepla/?action=view&current=H264BlackLevels.jpg
- Uncompressed looks FINE
- H264 looks WASHED OUT.
- The H264 movie in After Effects looks - FINE!
- A single frame from exported from QuickTime Player from the washed out H264 movie looks - FINE!
I took a screen capture of the H264 movie in QuickTime Player into After Effects and was able to adjust it - by eye using Levels - until it looked like the Original Uncompressed movie again.
My adjustments:
Output Black: -39
Output White: 260
Gamma 1.2
Before coming here I DID do some poking around, keywords "H264 washed out" and each post talked about Gamma and Tags but I 'think' my situation is different. One, I used tools that reportedly remove Gamma 'Tags' from QuickTime movies and each said, "No Tag Detected". Also, Gamma to me is what happens in BETWEEN black and white, not affecting the blacks or whites. Color sampling the darkest and lightest values of the screen capture suggested my blacks were now 24, 24, 24 and my whites were 234, 234, 234, almost (almost) as if they were 16-235 colors.
Anyone else experience this and possibly have a solution?
Thank you,
Marc

Thanks for writing back and promising to post additional information.
We've been chasing QuickTime issues for a while now, and we think that we got them pretty much dealt with (for the current state of QuickTime, anyway) in After Effects CS5. What version of After Effects are you using?
There's information about QuickTime and gamma here.

Similar Messages

Way to adjust black/white levels using color checker card in FCP6?

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IPOD Color- Corrupted- restored- black/white menu+not working (WinXP)

I got an iPOD Color Display last year, few days ago, it started going nuts. Windows were not recognizing etc.
After the restart-reboot-restore it has a Black/White GUI and still windows can not recognize it. Windows say that it is a generic USB hard drivem iTunes say that it needs to be restored (and after every restoration, it needs to be restored again, and it is not working anymore, even if it is alive).
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Hello,
If a sad iPod icon or an exclamation point and folder icon appears on your iPod’s screen, or with sounds of clicking or HD whirring, it is usually the sign of a hard drive problem and you have the power to do something about it now. Your silver bullet of resolving your iPod issue – is to restore your iPod to factory settings.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983
If you're having trouble, try these steps at different levels one at a time until the issue is resolved. These steps will often whip your iPod back into shape.
Make sure you do all the following “TRYs”
A. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
B. Try another FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
C. Try another FireWire or USB port on your computer .
D. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
E. Try to download and install the latest version of iPod software and iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
For old and other versions of iPod updater for window you can get here
http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=7369
F. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) and it would conquer most iPod issues.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
G. Try to put the iPod into Disk Mode if it fails to appear on the desktop
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651
If none of these steps address the issue, you may need to go to Intermediate level listed below in logical order. Check from the top of the lists to see if that is what keeping iPod from appearing on your computer in order for doing the Restore.
Intermediate Level
A. Try to connect your iPod with another computer with the iPod updater pre-installed.
B. Still can’t see your iPod, put it in Disk Mode and connect with a computer, instead of doing a Restore on iPod Updater. Go and format the iPod instead.
For Mac computer
1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
For Window computer
Go to folder “My Computer”
Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
Now select “Format”
Eject your iPod and do a Reset
Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool”.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=501330&tstart=0
C. Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
Tips
a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iTunes 7.
b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2364921&#2364921
Advance Level
A. Diagnostic mode solution
If you have tried trouble shooting your iPod to no avail after all the steps above, chances are your iPod has a hardware problem. The iPod's built-in Diagnostic Mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
You need to restart your iPod before putting it into Diagnostic Mode. Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack. Toggle it on and off to be safe.
Press and hold the following combination of buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode. For further details on Diagnostic mode can be found at http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/
Try to do the 5in1, HDD R/W and HDD scan tests. Some successful cases have been reported after the running the few tests under the Diagnostic mode. In case it does not work in your case, and the scan tests reports show some errors then it proves your iPod has a hardware problem and it needs a repairing service.
B. Format your iPod with a start disk
I have not tried this solution myself, I heard that there were few successful cases that the users managed to get their iPod (you must put your iPod in disk mode before connecting with a computer) mounted by the computer, which was booted by a system startup disk. For Mac, you can use the Disk Utility (on the Tiger OS system disk), for PC user, you can use the window OS system disk. Try to find a way to reformat your iPod, again it does not matter which format (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+) you choose, the key is to erase the corrupted system files on the iPod. Then eject your iPod and do a Reset to switch out from Disk Mode. Reboot your computer at the normal way, connect your iPod back with it, open the iPod updater, and hopefully your iPod will appear there for the Restore.
If none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired.
Consider setting up a mail-in repair for your iPod http://depot.info.apple.com/ipod/
Or visit your local Apple Retail Store http://www.apple.com/retail/
In case your iPod is no longer covered by the warranty and you want to find a second repairing company, you can try iPodResQ at your own risk
http://www.ipodresq.com/index.php
Just in case that you are at the following situation
Your iPod warranty is expired
You don’t want to pay any service charges
You are prepared to buy a new one
You can’t accept the re-sell value of your broken iPod
Rather than leave your iPod as paper-weight or throw it away.
You can try the following, but again, only do it as your last resort and at your own risk.
Warning !!!! – It may or may not manage to solve your problem, and with a risk that you may further damage your iPod, which end up as an expensive paper weight or you need to pay more higher repairing cost. Therefore, please re-consider again whether you want to try the next level
Last Resort Level
1. . Disconnecting the Hard Drive and battery inside the iPod – Warning !! Your iPod warranty will be waived once you open the iPod.
In Hong Kong there are some electronic shops offering an iPod service for Sad iPod, the first thing they do is to open up the iPod’s case and disconnecting the battery and the Hard Drive from the main board of the iPod. Wait for 5-10 minutes and reconnecting them back. The reason behind which I can think of is to do a fully reset of a processor of the iPod. In case you want do it itself and you believe that you are good on fixing the electronics devices and have experience to deal with small bits of electronic parts, then you can read the following of how to open the iPod case for battery and HDD replacement (with Quicktimes)
http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/directory.html
2.Press the reset button on the Hard Drive inside the iPod – Suggestion from Kill8joy
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2438774#2438774
Have I tried these myself? No, I am afraid to do it myself as I am squeamish about tinkering inside electronic devices, I have few experiences that either I broke the parts (which are normally tiny or fragile) or failed to put the parts back to the main case. Therefore, I agree with suggestion to have it fixed by a Pro.
2. Do a search on Google and some topics on this discussion forum about “Sad iPod”
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2831962#2831962
What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=469080&tstart=0
Strange error on iPod (probably death)
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0
Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=336342&start=0&tstart=0
Meeting the Sad iPod icon
http://askpang.typepad.com/relevanthistory/2004/11/meeting_thesad.html#comment-10519524
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2236095#2236095
iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2233746#2233746
4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2235623#2235623
Low Battery, and clicking sounds
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2242018#2242018
Sad iPod solution
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=412033&tstart=0
Re: try to restore ipod and it says "can't mount ipod"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=443659&tstart=30
iPod making clicking noise and is frozen
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2420150#2420150
I am not suggesting that you should follow as well, but just read them as your reference. You are the person to make the call.
Finally, I read a fair comments from dwb, regarding of slapping the back of the iPod multiple times
Quote “This has been discussed numerous times as a 'fix'. It does work, at least for a while. In fact I remember using the same basic trick to revive Seagate and Quantam drives back in the mid to late 1980's. Why these tiny hard drives go bad I don't know - could be the actuator gets stuck in place or misaligned. Could be the platter gets stuck or the motor gets stuck. 'Stiction' was a problem for drives back in the 80's. Unfortunately the fix can cause damage to the platter so we temporarily fix one problem by creating another. But I know of two instances where a little slap onto the table revived the iPods and they are still worked a year or more later.”UnQuote

My iPod displays black & white battery charge icon and sad iPod face. help!

I plugged my iPod into an older iMac; it froze and had to be restarted.
I restarted it and started listening on shuffle.
It would skip through all of my songs without me pressing any buttons.
I restarted again and it worked fine.
I came home and plugged it into my 10.3.9 iMac and the tracks started skiping and barely playing on iTunes.
I tried to eject it, but it wouldn't...so I unplugged it.
I then restarted it, but after the silver-on-black iMac icon came up, the sad iPod face showed.
So I pluged it back into the computer. It spontaniously restarted when I tried all of the steps of restarting and reinstalling.
Then it just displays a black& white old battery charge icon with a thunder bolt that flickers on the screen now and then.
And continues to restart itself with first the apple icon turning into the sad ipod face and then into the battery charge icon.
I really do not want to restore my iPod. I am hoping to keep my files but at this point, my future is bleak.
This happened last night. They said it might just be my battery so I kept it plugged in for about 10 hours. Nothing.
What can I do?
Please, please help.

Hello,
If a sad iPod icon or an exclamation point and folder icon appears on your iPod’s screen, or with sounds of clicking or HD whirring, it is usually the sign of a hard drive problem and you have the power to do something about it now. Your silver bullet of resolving your iPod issue – is to restore your iPod to factory settings.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983
If you're having trouble, try these steps at different levels one at a time until the issue is resolved. These steps will often whip your iPod back into shape.
Make sure you do all the following “TRYs”
A. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
B. Try another FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
C. Try another FireWire or USB port on your computer .
D. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
E. Try to download and install the latest version of iPod software and iTunes
http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
F. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) and it would conquer most iPod issues.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
G. Try to put the iPod into Disk Mode if it fails to appear on the desktop
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651
If none of these steps address the issue, you may need to go to Intermediate level listed below in logical order. Check from the top of the lists to see if that is what keeping iPod from appearing on your computer in order for doing the Restore.
Intermediate Level
A. Try to connect your iPod with another computer with the iPod updater pre-installed.
B. Still can’t see your iPod, put it in Disk Mode and connect with a computer, instead of doing a Restore on iPod Updater. Go and format the iPod instead.
For Mac computer
1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iPod Updater and click “Restore”
For Window computer
Go to folder “My Computer”
Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
Now select “Format”
Eject your iPod and do a Reset
Open the iPod Updater and click “Restore”
In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool”.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=501330&tstart=0
C. Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
Tips
a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iPod updater.
b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2364921&#2364921
Advance Level
A. Diagnostic mode solution
If you have tried trouble shooting your iPod to no avail after all the steps above, chances are your iPod has a hardware problem. The iPod's built-in Diagnostic Mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
You need to restart your iPod before putting it into Diagnostic Mode. Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack. Toggle it on and off to be safe.
Press and hold the following combination of buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode. For further details on Diagnostic mode can be found at http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/
Try to do the 5in1, HDD R/W and HDD scan tests. Some successful cases have been reported after the running the few tests under the Diagnostic mode. In case it does not work in your case, and the scan tests reports show some errors then it proves your iPod has a hardware problem and it needs a repairing service.
B. Format your iPod with a start disk
I have not tried this solution myself, I heard that there were few successful cases that the users managed to get their iPod (you must put your iPod in disk mode before connecting with a computer) mounted by the computer, which was booted by a system startup disk. For Mac, you can use the Disk Utility (on the Tiger OS system disk), for PC user, you can use the window OS system disk. Try to find a way to reformat your iPod, again it does not matter which format (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+) you choose, the key is to erase the corrupted system files on the iPod. Then eject your iPod and do a Reset to switch out from Disk Mode. Reboot your computer at the normal way, connect your iPod back with it, open the iPod updater, and hopefully your iPod will appear there for the Restore.
If none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired.
Consider setting up a mail-in repair for your iPod http://depot.info.apple.com/ipod/
Or visit your local Apple Retail Store http://www.apple.com/retail/
In case your iPod is no longer covered by the warranty and you want to find a second repairing company, you can try iPodResQ at your own risk
http://www.ipodresq.com/index.php
Just in case that you are at the following situation
Your iPod warranty is expired
You don’t want to pay any service charges
You are prepared to buy a new one
You can’t accept the re-sell value of your broken iPod
Rather than leave your iPod as paper-weight or throw it away.
You can try the following, but again, only do it as your last resort and at your own risk.
Warning !!!! – It may or may not manage to solve your problem, and with a risk that you may further damage your iPod, which end up as an expensive paper weight or you need to pay more higher repairing cost. Therefore, please re-consider again whether you want to try the next level
Last Resort Level
1. . Disconnecting the Hard Drive and battery inside the iPod – Warning !! Your iPod warranty will be waived once you open the iPod.
In Hong Kong there are some electronic shops offering an iPod service for Sad iPod, the first thing they do is to open up the iPod’s case and disconnecting the battery and the Hard Drive from the main board of the iPod. Wait for 5-10 minutes and reconnecting them back. The reason behind which I can think of is to do a fully reset of a processor of the iPod. In case you want do it itself and you believe that you are good on fixing the electronics devices and have experience to deal with small bits of electronic parts, then you can read the following of how to open the iPod case for battery and HDD replacement (with Quicktimes)
http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/directory.html
2.Press the reset button on the Hard Drive inside the iPod – Suggestion from Kill8joy
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2438774#2438774
Have I tried these myself? No, I am afraid to do it myself as I am squeamish about tinkering inside electronic devices, I have few experiences that either I broke the parts (which are normally tiny or fragile) or failed to put the parts back to the main case. Therefore, I agree with suggestion to have it fixed by a Pro.
2. Do a search on Google and some topics on this discussion forum about “Sad iPod”
What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=469080&tstart=0
Strange error on iPod (probably death)
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0
Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=336342&start=0&tstart=0
Meeting the Sad iPod icon
http://askpang.typepad.com/relevanthistory/2004/11/meeting_thesad.html#comment-10519524
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2236095#2236095
iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2233746#2233746
4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2235623#2235623
Low Battery, and clicking sounds
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2242018#2242018
Sad iPod solution
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=412033&tstart=0
Re: try to restore ipod and it says "can't mount ipod"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=443659&tstart=30
iPod making clicking noise and is frozen
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2420150#2420150
I am not suggesting that you should follow as well, but just read them as your reference. You are the person to make the call.

How can I convert RGB Color to Black-White Color?

Dear everyone!
I am using Photoshop CS5. I have got a file from my customer which is done as RGB and the resolution is 300dpi. There are black texts and color images in the file. I wish to print Black-White Process Film (1 black color), but I don't know how to solve it. I started converting my file to Grayscale and then the black texts are not black enough because it becomes lighter. When I go to Level and adjust the color, both the image and texts becomes darker. What must I do to make only texts blacker without effecting the image?
Please find the attached file for the reference.
For more information, please let me know.
My Best Regards,
LUCK

luck_lesson wrote:
...I have got a file from my customer which is done as RGB and the resolution is 300dpi. ..
What file format was supplied to you? Was it truly RGB @ 300ppi or did you rasterize a PDF?
300ppi is lousy for text. You might converse with your customer to instruct them on the ideal way to supply a file to you.

Lightroom or Elements for a simple purpose - RAW to black&white

Hi,
I have no experience whatsoever with digital photography, I've been working on analogue for several years now, but want to give it a try...
The thing is that I'm looking for a software, which will allow me:
- possibility to convert color RAW from camera into black&white RAW, then export as a JPEG (I'd like to have a chance to enhance the contrast etc. on the RAW in b&w before having a final file, and maybe add option of plugins as NIK Silver Efex in the future if I feel a need for it)
- add white frame around the JPEG, of which size I could choose, and maybe add my name/logo + date on the frame
I'm confused and don't know which software would allow me to do that two, simple things - Lightroom or Elements?
Thanks for your support!

Elements is more limited in how to adjust the colors to black-and-white.
Lightroom has more sophisticated adjustments. These adjustments are the same as in the Camera Raw plug-in for Photoshop, but absent in the Camera Raw plug-in for Elements. The adjustments allow you to enhance the contrast and brightness of the gray-level for narrow ranges of original colors instead of a simple removal of color with a default color-balance or clicking on a preset that Elements has.
Here is a very verbose video introduction to the LR B/W conversion on an example photo, viewed best in full-screen HD:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/bw_workflow_in_lightroom.shtml
Here is a step-by-step example with screenshots and description, from 2008, but the adjustments still mostly apply, except the vignetting you’d use wouldn’t be lens-related, it’d be the Post-Crop Vignetting in the Effects section that didn’t exist back in 2008:
http://layersmagazine.com/create-stunning-black-and-white-images-in-lightroom.html
These were just the first and third links that showed up after Googling for Lightroom Black and White.
BTW, I am a photo-hobbyist and use Lightroom every day, so it’s not just for professionals making money off their photos that need something fast. For me it is more about seriousness and perfection and freedom.

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Hi everyone,
to explain what I'm doing first.
I am creating a bi-monthly magazine for a club, the magazine is printed in black & white with greyscale images, with a colour cover spread.
This magazine also appears on the clubs website in full color.
So my question is, can I create the whole magazine on inDesign in full color, then export it as a PDF in full color for the website. Then export a second copy as a PDF with the color cover spread and internal pages in black & white/grey scale.
As I don't want to have to make the whole magazine in colour, export it, then make all the changes to the images in photoshop.
Any help would be much appreciated.

You can make the magazine in full colour and export to PDF, giving you a full colour.
You can then use Acrobat to Convert the PDF to Grayscale (save as a new name) and that can be your black and white version.
There is no way using File>Export to get a Grayscale PDF from InDesign.
To get a grayscale PDF from InDesign you would need to use File>Print and print directly to a PDF OR to postscript (then use acrobat distiller to distill the PS file). But printing to PDF is frowned upon by many.
Besides, a simple conversion of colour images to grayscale is kind of bland. When you convert a colour image to grayscale you always almost nearly always need to change the levels/curves and shadow and highlight/contrast for a meatier looking b/w image.
But you can make the conversion to Grayscale in the PDF as said earlier http://www.google.ie/search?q=pdf+to+grayscale&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-U S:official&client=firefox-a

Black&White printing of a PDF file

Please suggest how to modify printer settings so that a pdf file prints only black&white even though the printer attached could be a colour printer.
I have checked printer setup->properties->advanced button in acrobat reader, but could not find option to make the print black & white only.

Hi,
when i checked printer preferences advanced option, only following were visible, and none of them i suppose relates to black&white printing.
<printer name> advanced document settings
Paper/Output
Copy Count
Graphic
Scaling
True Type Font
Document Options
PostScript Options
PostScript Output Option
True Type Font Download Option
PostScript Language Level
Send PostScript Error Handler
Mirrored Output
Negative Output
Printer Features
Offset Collated Sets
Edge-to-Edge Printing
Image Smoothing
Draft Mode
Watermark

MY VIDEO EDITS IN BLACK & WHITE

HELLO! I'M NEW TO MAC AND THIS MAY SOUND A DUMB QUESTION BUT I WANT TO GIVE ONE OF MY FINISHED EDITS AN OLD LOOK EITHER IN GRAINY BLACK & WHITE OR SEPIA TONE. I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT IN MY IMOVIE PROGRAMME THAT CAME IN MY ILIFE 08 PACKAGE, DO I HAVE TO BUY ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE TO DO THIS OR AM I BLIND AS A BAT! THANKS!

I WANT TO GIVE ONE OF MY FINISHED EDITS AN OLD LOOK EITHER IN GRAINY BLACK & WHITE OR SEPIA TONE. I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT IN MY IMOVIE PROGRAMME THAT CAME IN MY ILIFE 08 PACKAGE, DO I HAVE TO BUY ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE TO DO THIS OR AM I BLIND AS A BAT!
Try the "Export using QuickTime" option. After selecting audio, video, size, and streaming options, select the "Filters" option. Based on what you say you want, would suggest you select the "Film Noise" filter with the "Dust and Film Fading" pop-up option and use either the "Sepia" or "B&W" fading option.

Colour image on black & white photograph

How can I convert a colour photograph to part black & white? I believe I need to de-saturate to start with, but that's as much as I know.

John,
Since you asked about selection, here's an example using the Magic Wand and Selection Brush tools.
http://home.earthlink.net/~msand42/PSE/Selection%20Brush/album/
In the 1st shot I used the Magnetic Lasso to select the cat. This worked well since the outline of the cat contrasted with the background. For purposes of my example, I then cut off from the selection the top of his head and part of his paw, and selected a part of the blanket.
In the 2nd shot I activated the Selection Brush tool with the Mode option set to Mask and inverted the selection. Now the cat is masked in red. Note that the default Overlay value is 50% so that you can see through the mask. You might need to modify the Overlay so that you can see enough detail to paint the mask (next step). As you can see, the two missing portions of the cat are not masked and the excess blanket is.
In the 3rd shot I painted to fill in the missing portions of the cat. To erase the excess on the blanket I held down <Alt> while painting. You can adjust the size of the brush to get the necessary level of detail for painting.
In the 4th shot I inverted the selection and and set Mode to Selection to get back to the normal view showing the selected cat.
Of course if you have a steady hand you can simply draw the selection using the Lasso tool, but I wanted to demonstrate how you can fine-tune it with the Selection Brush.

Query Re: 'Show Clipping for Black/White Points'

Good morning.
Please can anyone help me with a query.
I have recently come across the 'Show Clipping for Black/White Points' in Levels and Curves and it's driving me mad!
Until recently, I have always opened raw images in Camera Raw or Lightroom, checked for clipping there, and if need be use the recovery or blacks sliders to recover detail. I then open my 16 bit image image in PS in ProPhotoRGB, using levels to make any alterations. I would check to see in the histogram if all is ok and left it there. It all felt pretty straight forward.
Now though I've taken to holding the alt button and going through each channel only to find that clipping occurs every time I begin to move the slider; however small.
The only way I can avoid this clipping is by leaving the levels bar alone altogether. Then there is no clipping in any channels but the image looks flat, and the histogram shows up big gaps on both sides (at least to the naked eye).
I always thought the idea was to move the sliders so there aren't big gaps on either side.
But if I move the slider say from 255 to 254, a red dot will appear, to 250, a few clusters, and by the time I've adjusted the levels to where I think it should be at 230 (based on the histogram) there will be clipping in all colours, all over the place!
I don't know what I'm meant to do. It's more frustrating because I thought I had dealt with the clipping in Camera Raw. Is there a way to avoid this whilst still moving the sliders to where I want them to be?
Thanks for taking the time to read this.

c.pfaffenbichler wrote:
So why are you pressing alt when dragging the Levels handles if the information this provides is not to your liking?
Good point! That's what I've been asking myself.
I think I was happier when I was blissfully unaware of clipping, brightening away to my heart's content! It feels as if the more I discover the less I really know.
Thanks D Fosse for the tip on curves. Much appreciated.

Create proofing profile that mimics Black & White Brick settings?

Hi. I've been doing a lot of work with grayscale recently. As a means of previewing what Images might look like converted to grayscale, I have turned on "On-Screen Proofing" and selected one of the "Generic Gray" profiles. With this set-up, every Image I view in the Viewer shows in (generic) grayscale (Browser view shows them "normally").
The work I'm doing involves grayscale changes that are not generic. Is there any way to create a profile that mimics the settings in Aperture's Black & White Brick? (E.g.: -1% red, -1% green, 100% blue?)
(Yes, I can dupe the Images, apply the adjustment in batch as a saved effect (or stamp), and then view them, but then I end up good dupes and bad dupes and a good chance of disturbing the universe (or at least my Library organization). For this particular use, proofing seems easier to do, and much less likely to leave a mess.)
Thanks.
--Kirby.

DLSCreative -- Many thanks -- looking forward to playing around with this and learning from it.
From a glance, one of the first things I wonder is if you might be interested in setting something up with multiple Levels Bricks. I'm not sure ( ), but I think the single-channel Levels Bricks affect complementary colors at once (red/cyan; green/magenta; yellow/blue). (http://documentation.apple.com/en/aperture/usermanual/index.html#chapter=17%26se ction=15%26tasks=true )
Cheers!

Email Stops Sending - Constant Spinning Black & White Wheel

I mistakenly attempted to send a large attachment (over 30mb) and since then (10 hours ago) my email account has the spinning black & white wheel spinning. I am able to receive emails, but not send.
When looking at the Activity Monitor, the Network traffic is high. When I force mail to quit, Network traffic trails off.
I've deleted the Outbox.mbox as an other post suggested, but this didn't solve the problem.
The email account causing the issue is a gmail one, setup with IMAP.
Have checked the Mail/Preferences/Outgoing Mail account, and all looks well.
Any suggestions?

You will probably be able to correct this by going to your web interface page for your ISP mail and delete the offending e-mail file from there. I've had this happen a couple of times. And doing this cleared it up. Gmail is a particularly egregious culprit with things like this. Once it gets stuck, you almost always have to go to the web interface to clear up the problem.
Good Luck.
Jon

MacBook - Black & white image on TV

Please can somebody help with connecting my MacBook to a Sony trinitron TV
I have a new MacBook and I'm using the following set up to connect to a 5 year old Sony TV -
Apple mini-DVI to video converter into S-video lead connected to S-video to SCART adaptor - problem is that I only get a black & white image.
Can anybody help = please?
13" white MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Hi essman,
As S-Video cables send their chroma (colour) and luminance (brightness) signals separately it sounds as though the problem may be found either in your S-Video cable or in one of the S-Video connectors. If only the luminance pins/wire was working correctly your video signal would appear to be in black and white.
To ensure that the SCART adapter is not the problem however I would recommend testing with a composite video cable (also known as an RCA.) With that cable the entire video signal is sent over the one pin, so you either get video or you don't. If over that connection it's still black and white, I would say the blame lies with the SCART adapter.
Hope this helps!
Jason

Black & white screen using DVI-to-Video adapter

I've got a strange problem. I'm connecting my MacBook Pro to a Sony TV using Apple's DVI to Video adapter and a composite video cable.
As soon as I make the connection, I see the Mac's screen appearing on my TV, but it is in black & white! And it flickers a little every few seconds. The only way to get to a colour screen seems to be to re-boot the MacBook. It's quite annoying.
Previously, I've always had a colour picture come up immediately. The problem started to crop up right around the time I installed Snow Leopard, in fact, although I'm not sure whether it's a coincidence or not. And I don't think it's related to my TV. Any thoughts?

same problem here... first time i plug it in after a reboot it's in color. when you disconnect it and try again later it'll be in black and white and there's nothing you can do to fix the problem. only choice you have is to reboot your computer. as you can imagine, having to reboot the computer every time you want to use the adapter is REALLY annoying

H264 QuickTime Black, White, Gamma Levels

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