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We’ve lots of articles on this site covering digital black and white photography and other monochrome issues.
If you are just starting out with digital black and white, then this particular article may be of interest. It’s a 2020 version of the original I wrote in 2004.
This page is the reference point for all our digital black and white photography related articles and reviews.
It covers all aspects from taking photos for black and white use, processing and editing them (converting colour to b&w) and producing black and white prints.
Articles listed here are those with significant sections dealing with aspects of black and white photography. There are also some of my older Black and White Photos in the Gallery
Reference pages and test images
- Printer Test Images
- B&W printer test image
- Printer cleaning
- Paper reviews
- Black & White from colour – 20+ conversion techniques
Videos
- Keith’s YouTube channel has a specific digital black and white playlist.
Current printer reviews (include B&W sections)
Why Black and White
Black and white photography still inspires me.
I’m reminded of this quote from someone who’s original work, and ability to explore new techniques I admire:
“I eagerly await new concepts and processes. I believe that the electronic image will be the next major advance. Such systems will have their own inherent and inescapable structural characteristics, and the artist and functional practitioner will again strive to comprehend and control them.”
– Ansel Adams
forward to his book “the Negative”, published January, 1980
Digital Black and White Photography
The image to the right is a special black and white printer test image.
Keith Cooper has created it to test the quality of black and white printing.
This is the current version of our standard black and white printer test image, first published in 2005.
The test image incorporates a number of features designed to make it useful in testing and then improving monochrome print output.
Many features are also directly copied from the old version so as to maintain compatibility with existing test prints.
It’s quite a harsh test, but covers most areas where printers have difficulties, such as shadow detail, colour casts, and linearity.
All the various parts are explained and an A4 300ppi sized version is freely available for download. There are versions with a 51 and 21 step greyscale ramp available for creating QTR ‘correction’ profiles. There are also numerous articles that include its use.
Black and White photography articles on this site
The articles and reviews are grouped into different categories. You can look through all the articles via the categories selection at there right, or use the search box.
Videos
- Video: Black and White workflow for printsVideo: Keith Cooper's black and white workflow for prints - From camera to print and how some processes have changed over 20 years, whilst others are just the same (30mins)
- Videos: Key print quality choicesVideos: What are the key print quality choices? Three videos look at what print quality means, how it goes beyond printer choice, and ways of looking at your prints
- Video: Back to film for your photographyVideo: Thinking of using film in your photography? Why 'back to film' needs some reasons and serious thinking about what it is you want (19m 05s)
- Video: Epson ET-8550 vs P700Video: Keith looks at which Epson 13" A3+ photo printer is best for your needs. The ET-8550 vs P700 features, benefits and differences (22m 40s)
- Video: How good a printer do you needVideo: Keith looks at how good a printer you need for printing your photos. What features and specifications matter when looking at printers (11m 50s)
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Articles
- Better black and white profiling with the ColorMunkiUsing the Colormunki to create QuadToneRIP (QTR) linearising icc profiles for black and white printmaking. Smoother gradations and unblocked shadows
- Printing Black and White digital photographyPrinting Black and White digital photography, is the second part of an interview with Keith Cooper about all aspects of digital monochrome photography
- Black and white digital photography with Keith CooperAn extended version of a magazine interview with Keith Cooper, discussing different aspects of digital black and white photography. B&W photography tips and advice
- Digital Black and White – working in 16 bitHow converting 8 bit colour JPEG images images to 16 bit before converting to black and white gives up to 10 bit greyscale (B&W) images.
- QTR and PrintFIX PRO to get better black and white printsUsing the PrintFIX Pro colorimeter with QTR to make greyscale ICC profiles to improve linearity for black and white printing.
- Why don’t my prints match my screen?Why your prints often don't match your screen very well. Some explanations, solutions and ways of dealing with the problem
- Digital photography – two years onSome thoughts about aspects of digital photography - revisiting the issues and ideas, some two years after deciding to ditch film. A decision I've never remotely had second thoughts about
- A Black and White test imageSpecial test image designed for black and white print checking. Includes explanation of use for all features of the downloadable image.
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There are over 1300 free articles, videos and reviews on the site - thanks to everyone who helps support it. We appreciate any purchases you make through our partners such as B&H which help us sustain the site.
Reviews
- Nik Silver Efex Pro V2 reviewReview of Nik Silver Efex Pro version 2. Plugin converts colour images to black and white, with many adjustment options and preset conversions (Now part of the DxO Nik Collection)
- Review of Nik HDR Efex Pro pluginReview of the Nik (Google/DxO) plugin for creating high dynamic range (HDR) images from multiple exposure images of the same scene. Works with aperture, Lightroom and Photoshop.
- Review of DxO FilmPack plugin V2Review of the FilmPack plugin and app (version 2) from DxO. Processes images to emulate the look (grain, tonality, colour) of a wide range of film types
- Paper review: Innova Cold Press Rough Textured Natural WhiteFine art Paper review of Innova Cold Press Rough Textured Natural White (IFA-13) tested on an Canon iPF8300
- Paper review Innova Decor papersPaper review of Innova heavy matte textured double sided Decor papers IFA-24 and IFA-25, tested using the Canon iPF8300.
- BowHaus True Black and White reviewBowHaus True Black and White review. Black and white specialist printing software for Canon iPF large format printers. Offers full ink control and linearisation.
- Canon iPF6300 reviewCanon iPF6300 review, testing the imagePROGRAF iPF6300 24 inch large format printer, for colour and black and white fine art printing.
- Epson Stylus Pro 3880 reviewReview of the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 printer. Desktop printer is 17 inch print width and takes A2 sheets, photo and fine art papers. Colour and black and white printing
Printing
- Video: Epson ET-8550 vs P700Video: Keith looks at which Epson 13" A3+ photo printer is best for your needs. The ET-8550 vs P700 features, benefits and differences (22m 40s)
- Video: How good a printer do you needVideo: Keith looks at how good a printer you need for printing your photos. What features and specifications matter when looking at printers (11m 50s)
- Video: what paper is best for different imagesVideo: Keith looks what paper is best for different types of photographic image Why some papers suit different styles of photography (15m 36s)
- Video: The best ET-8550 printsVideo: Keith looks how the get the very best Epson ET-8550 prints from your printer. What media works well and what settings do you need (16m 23s)
- Detailed Canon G550 printer reviewFull Canon G550 printer review. The A4 sized six ink MegaTank printer is filled from individual bottles of dye based inks. Black/grey/red/cyan/magenta/yellow inks. The G650 is the same printer but with a scanner. It has different G5xx model numbers in other regions.
- Video: What makes a better printerVideo: Keith looks at what features make for a better printer and why many of them are nowhere near as important as some people think. More inks, grey inks - what matters (15m 12s)
- Video: Epson ET-8550 choosing paperKeith tests looks at choosing paper for the Epson ET-8550 13"/A3+ printer. Making the best use of test packs and paper samples (9m 43s)
- Video: Epson ET-8550 printing on filmKeith tests printing on clear transparency film (160um thickness) with the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 printer. Printing for digital negatives and positives/transparencies (12m 12s)
News
- Epson SureColor SC-P5000 STD Printer announcedLatest information about the new SureColor P5000 17" large format printer from Epson. The replacement for the SP4900 A2 sized desktop printer.
- Keith Cooper’s talks about printmakingKeith Cooper talks about making large prints at The Photography Show 2017 - Getting great looking big prints from your work. From camera to print, the complete workflow
- New Canon papers announcedCanon USA announce three new Premium Fine Art papers — Premium Fine Art Smooth, Premium Fine Art Bright White and Premium Polished Rag. Designed to produce, rich-color reproduction, and detailed expression of gradation. Keith has a roll of the Fine Art Smooth for an upcoming paper review
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