Robert
Basically it is simple once you grasp the PS methodology , but since you may not be comfortable with PS it is a learning curve.( For me it was , courses with various teachers, lots of reading and days and days of practice on a series of different images, this took me about 3-4 years to be as comfortable with PS as I am in the darkroom.)
I would say that if you have patience and a willingness to learn a good starting place to learn about this is Kelby training, > Dan Margulis> and be prepared to be flumixed for awhile. For anyone serious about hybrid work, a good working knowledge of the four main modes- Greyscale-RGB-LAB- CMYK is essential.
If all you are ever going to do is make inkjet prints in RGB well , plugins may be for you. We are making multiple hit alt prints from various source input, since most capture is in colour
nowadays , knowing how to translate that to a black and white image is important.
BW Conversion
All I am doing is looking at the image , channel by channel, then picking channels that I think have the best information, usually the green channel has the best
info, but not always, the red has good info, and the blue sometimes has all the crap. As the sensors of digital cameras become better the channels are cleaner.
by using Apply Image I look at lets say the green channel, then I will add the red channel on top at a reduced opacity, by changing the opacity,by changing the blending modes, I will see which combination gives me the look I am after, then I will decide if adding the blue makes any sense, usually it gives a bit more detail but most times I am happy blending the two best channels.
Once the blend of the channels is done , I will open the curve dialoque box which will be the green curve as it is the open channel. then curve shape at this point to improve the image.
Once the image looks like a winner, I will change mode to greyscale, dump the non required channels and Bobs your Uncle.
**A harder work flow would be to go into Lab mode first, then do a curve adjustment to basically drive the colours apart, the colour looks phoney , but the separation between colour tones is more apparent. Go back into RGB and then do the above.
If done right you will get better separation in the coloured areas than you would get with a basic conversion.***
You need to figure out the settings and this is where Margulis Teachings is very helpful.
Just mentioning his name causes reactions by people, some hate, hate , hate his workflows and argue they are all wrong, others like me embrace his teachings and take from them what is important. I spent four three day workshops with him, in Chicago and Toronto, they are intense , usually around 12 hours average per day and you do not feel good leaving one of his workshops. But by practicing his methods, the light turns on at some point and it all starts making sense.
Margulis will not let you use plug ins or selections to do the course. I saw many people walk out in disgust after one day, blowing the $2800 course fee and not to mention hotel and travel costs.
If a plug in is not letting you dump channels and play with the local contrast then I would say you are just as well off using the BW conversion function that is in CS3 and above.
This function is cool, it will make you look like a star very fast, but remember it is keeping all three channels and there could be some woopass lurking in one of them.
Bob
Do you have notes of what you do? Sounds complicated.
I'm not that sure as it is with digital. Spent a lifetime in a darkroom.