Hi stuartdunlop,
I work with this:
These progams are freeware:
Goto:
Cybia - Digital Resource Studio
Choose at the top: Digital Photography/The works/Alphaworks and download
Choose at the top: Digital Photography/The works/Mezzy and download
Install these filters
Open a photo and choose filters cybia/mezzy/etching. Play with the sliders Details/Contrast/Black (first, set details and contrast on zero and play with black. Now you have a black and white image.
Important duplicate layer or the next filter won't work and go to filters cubia/alpha works/PHOTO WhiteOut, so you have now a layer with the white parts become transparent
Have fun and if you some time left over have a look at the other filters on this site,
Ton