Topaz Software Black & White Effects

Topaz Software has a new Photoshop Plug-in called B&W Effects which looks quite good. It is quite different from Nik's Silver Efex Pro, and it has the easy to use overall look and feel common to all the Topaz Labs software. I find myself turning more and more to their products, even though I have other tools available. B&W Effects contains numerous presets, and a very deep set of controls which you can expose or hide as you need. By way of example, I converted a MF Color transparency (Pentax 67II, Agfa RSX 50) to B&W and I am very happy with the result. One very cool feature is the ability to apply an infinitely variable B&W "Filter" which effectively simulates the use of a given B&W film filter. For example, I applied a yellow filter to the sample image so that the sky was darkened.

A 30-day trial is available, so it is worth checking out (Mac/Window 32bit or 64bit). There is also a discount code ($30 off) good until September 18: "bwandbeyond"

Disclaimer: I do not work for or receive remuneration from Topaz Labs, I am merely a satisfied customer.

http://www.topazlabs.com/bweffects/