WHICH PHOTOS TO CHOOSE?

[Havi]

Hi everybody,
I have a problem, I was invited to post in a literary magazine photos of my glass art.
The editor liked my pieces , and invited me. This is a great honor for me.
However, he mentioned that only the cover of the magazine is printed in full color, the inside pages are black and white only.

I think that color is a main protagonist in my pieces....
I do not know if there is some kind of rule or advise as to how to choose the pieces that will be printed in black and white.

Can anybody help???


many thanks,

Havi

[Marty]

not without seeing the photos....

[Mike Jordan]

Tell him that the cover will do nicely and "which picture was it you wanted to use?"

The type of black and white also depends on the paper it's going to be displayed on and what kind of process. Images in newsprint for newspapers need to be of higher contrast without a lot of details in the mid-tones, while a higher quality print (such as they use in most magazines) can display good mid-tone detail as well as more detail in the highlights and shadows. The really high quality magazines, like those that show high end photography work can rival the best photographic paper with rich blacks, clean whites, and all the detail that is in the image itself. Even with the best printing process on the best paper, some images just do not do well in black and white, especially if color is part of the artistic impact of the image. If it's not going to present your work in it's best light, I'd tell them thanks, but no thanks or else stick to the work that won't lose it's impact in back and white. Also, keep in mind how an image is turned into a black and white image matters as well. Any color image can be made a gray scale image, but it takes someone really good with Photoshop (or what ever program they use) to create a monochrome image and not lose any of the tonal range, contrast and detail.

Oh, you can tell them that besides the front cover they can also put one in color on the back cover as well.

Mike

[Terry Ow-Wing]

I would definitely try printing out your pics in black and white - I had one of my favorite plates in a blue and green combo when printed in black and white seemed as if it had no contrast what so ever. Best of luck!

[Morganica]

As Terry said, try printing the pictures in black and white to see which ones look best. Generally, you'll find that the strongest, most contrasting lines and textures will look the best in greyscale. If the artwork relies on a pattern of colors of similar value, choose something else.

Talk to your photographer about this, also; he/she may have some idea of which images will look best. If the photographer is willing to "tweak" your images in Photoshop, s/he can increase the contrast of some channels in the image, which can help. (Normally I wouldn't suggest that because it's altering the appearance of the art, but if the photo is B&W, it's altered already)

[Havi]

Thank you all

I think, as an example that transparent pieces with air bubbles might work - not too bad - in black and white

Attached is one piece like this. [This is BTW the one whose edges needed to be trimmed..]

I'll try more, later


Thanks a lot,
Havi

[Havi]

OR
Do you think that these will work for black and white?

OR

OR

[Havi]

OR this,
for black and white?

or am I completely wrong assuming that air bubbles will come out nicely in b/w


would be very grateful for your output,
as allways


Havi

[Marty]

Open the photos on your computer and drop the saturation to B & W, then play with the settings (definition, contrast etc.). You should be able to tell the keepers.