I’m a fine art photographer with a passion for digital infrared, and black-and-white images are a significant part of my portfolio. There is a purity and intensity to a well-crafted monochrome image and many software options out there to help convert a color image to black-and-white. In my experience, the best way to convert a color image to monochrome is a method that gives me the most control over how each color is translated. Filters that automate the conversion often don’t allow for fine control or end up creating images that are noisy, grainy or just look “cookie cutter.” I don’t want someone to see my monochrome images and respond, “Oh, you used ‘whatever’ filter.” Figure 1. My color image before...