Digital Light & Color

I've used the monochrome transformation with filters to good effect, but I'm
interested in (1) greater control via color channels, (2) some "classic" black and white
contrast curves that I can apply and start to play with, (3) some techniques for adding
simulated grain patterns (not noise) to certain images when appropriate, and (4) not
least, some methods for tasteful, subtle toning of the final B&W image (which I presume
would thus really be a color image file) - I don't find "monitor gray scale" very representative
of the prints I produce.

I know there are specialized tools to accomplish this more conveniently, but I want to see
what I can accomplish, and perhaps automate, in PWP.

Any tips, links, tutorials, posts, etc. greatly appreciated!

Thanks! - Scott

(1) You might try looking here for some ideas/approaches: http://www.ncplus.net/~birchbay/tutorials/bw/bw01.htm

(2) Favored "Monochrome-Color Mixer" transform initial settings: R=60; G=30; B=20; and Exp=92->94 [lower exposure until highlight clipping is no longer is indicated].

(3) Do an Old and current message board search for "grain". There have been numerouse postings/threads.

(4) Favored "grain" technique...
...(a) Reference: Go done page to Grain... http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/How_to/ ... tml?page=5
...(b) a PWP Composite-Hard Light transform equivalent to duplicate the article's "grain.jpg" with no mask:
......1) download the "nograin.jpg" and "t400small.jpg" from the article's web page and open them in PWP;
......2) click on "t400small.jpg" and open the Composite-Hard Light transform and set the Overlay = "nograin.jpg" leaving everything else at default and click OK; and
......3) the aggressive "grained" image of 2) can be preferentially Composite-Blended with the "nograin.jpg"

...den...