The reason I love this approach is because I enjoy the process. Being able to tweak not only red, green, and blue, but to hit pinks and oranges and not-quite-yellows with accuracy is very, very satisfying.
In the Before/After image above, you can see a typical Ishihara plate which is used to help determine colorblindness. I have a slight red/green deficiency so in the original plate I cannot see the number. Using an automated B&W conversion method the result is the “Before” image. The number is lost, but the conversion is technically “correct.”
Using my precision technique, you can easily decide which colors get priority and make an image that is truer to your interpretation of the color image.
While automated tools can give beautiful results, they may not be YOUR results. B&W Control Freak gives you the chance to realize specifically your vision. When coupled with tools such as Luminosity Masking, there is no end to the control and artistry you can bring to your greyscale images.
Check out the large size version of my Jemez Cliffs photo in B&W!