Have you ever wondered why you find black and white pictures so lovely? It is because these are timeless. These pictures have a distinctly nostalgic and romantic feel to them.
Once black and white pictures take over your mind, there is no going back. You may not even like any colored picture as much as a black and white one.
So you have a color image, but you are wondering how to make a photo black and white?
Well, you can make your pictures black and white all by yourself using photoshop. In this following discussion, you are going to learn about it.
What Happens When You Make an Image Black and White?
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When an image lacks color, its structure is significantly changed, making it more challenging to identify between pieces.
And a black and white photograph has a color that helps the topic or scene stand out. When the color is taken away, the subject or scene blends into the image’s background.
Black and White Photoshop
You may convert your images to black and white using Photoshop’s destructive and non-destructive methods.
Let’s learn a bit about them:
Destructive Methods
The images edited with this technique cannot be changed later. Once the changes are done, there is no way to modify it other than to start over.
Non-destructive methods
Your edited photo is saved as a layer, while the original photo is kept below it untouched. So, by selecting the Adjustment Layer icon, you can modify the conversion at any point before flattening the picture.
However, Non-destructive photo editing is a better option than destructive photo editing.
How to Make Photo Black and White
There are several ways of creating black and white pictures.
Changing to Greyscale
The grayscale conversion, the simplest black-and-white transformation technique, eliminates all color data from the image. This method is quite quick and easy to do. However, you will not have any control over the transition.
Using Hue/Saturation Tool
This technique produces the same outcome by switching to greyscale and applying a black and white adjustment layer. The benefit is that it can be used as an adjustment layer and is compatible with non-destructive editing.
It is also a fast and simple method for editing. In both Photoshop and Elements, you can utilize it as an adjustment layer. However, the conversion will not be under your control too.
Lab Color Method
You can transform your colored photo from RGB mode to Lab color mode. Intensity and color variables are independently recorded in lab mode. It signifies that you can remove the color features from a black-and-white image in Lab.
It provides a more accurate conversion to black and white. The image determines if the conversion is appealing. But it isn’t available in Photoshop. Being a destructive method, it doesn’t provide you any control over the edit.
Gradient Map
The intensity levels of your photo are mapped to a black and white pattern with the Gradient Map tool. White or light grey highlights contrast with dark areas, which turn black or dark gray.
Though you may not even have control of the conversion, it is a simple and quick, non-destructive method.
Channel Mixer
Red, Green, and Blue are the three-color channels used in your color photographs. Millions of pigments in your shot are created by combining these basic colors. Using the Channel Mixer technique, you can change the proportions between red, green, and blue.
Modern black-and-white photographers utilizing effects and filters are similar to channel mixers. You will get the same result by turning the red channel’s brightness to 100% when using black and white film with a red filter on the lens.
It allows you to have a lot of control over the conversion to black and white. Unfortunately, it lacks the flexibility of other methods and is not included in Photoshop Elements.
Method for Black and White Adjustment Layers
With six color sliders, the Black and White Adjustment Layer is available in Photoshop CS3 and later. It gives you complete control over the channel mixer and twin hue/saturation approaches.
But its Targeted Adjustment Tool is a fascinating component. With the help of this tool, you may lighten or darken the colors in your image. It is a simple and accurate converting method.
The positive part is that the black-and-white transformation technique offers the most flexibility. But it can only be found in Photoshop CS3 up.
Also Read: How to Copy a Layer Mask in Photoshop
Convert Your Image to a Black and White Image Using Photoshop
Using the Black & White Adjustment Layer, Make Your Image Grayscale
Do the following to access the Black & White adjustment layer:
- Choose Window, then select Adjustments.
- In the Adjustments menu that appears, select the Black & White
- Choose Layer, then New Adjustment Layer, and finally Black & White.
- Enter a name for the adjustment layer in the New Layer text box, and click OK.
You will find that Photoshop has converted your image to grayscale by default.
Adjust Your Outcomes in the Properties Panel.
Preset: Choose a predetermined grayscale mix or a custom mix that has been previously stored. Click the settings menu button and choose Save Black & White Preset to save your unique blend.
Auto: it creates a grayscale blend depending on the colors in your image. The Auto mix frequently produces fantastic outcomes. Using the color sliders, you can also utilize them as a starting point for adjusting gray levels.
Tint: You must first activate the Tint to apply a color tone. In order to use the Color Picker and choose the tint color, click the color swatch.
Color sliders: Your image’s unique color’s gray tones should be adjusted. To adjust the gray tones that match the image’s original color, move a slider left or right.
Save Your Results
Save your findings after you are satisfied with the black-and-white conversion, then post them on social media and in the Adobe Photoshop forum.
Remember to tweet your photo with #blackandwhitephotoshop and mention Adobe Photoshop.
To Conclude
We know how much you love your black and white photos. The aesthetic vibe it gives is uncomparable. Once you start getting into these kinds, there is no going back.
So, work on your colored photo to turn it into black and white immediately using these features and options. You can now turn any photo of yours in this kind.
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