Black & White are the most primitive color and have its own charm as well. In today’s digital world it is very common to deal with Black & White images around us. If anyone is working with B/W film photography, probably he/she is preserving the age old legacy of photography.
If we are working
with Digital Camera, we took the colour photograph and change it into Black
& White.
Now there are several tricks and procedures to deal with B/W images in Photoshop.
At FroggyLeap – one of the best institutes for Photoshop Training in Kolkata we will discuss about the procedures, tricks and techniques. So today’s topic is -
Now there are several tricks and procedures to deal with B/W images in Photoshop.
At FroggyLeap – one of the best institutes for Photoshop Training in Kolkata we will discuss about the procedures, tricks and techniques. So today’s topic is -
How to change an image to Black and White in Photoshop?
Now in this
episode we will mostly cover commonly used Black & White techniques with
their pros and cons. Photoshop provides two types of B/W conversion techniques
Destructive techniques are those by which if we
once convert any color image in B/W, it can’t be readjusted later. By this
method we can never bring back the original stage of the color photograph once
we save and close the image.
Note - we should always keep a backup copy of the original image while working with these techniques.
Note - we should always keep a backup copy of the original image while working with these techniques.
Non-Destructive techniques are those by which we deal
with color images through new adjustment layer. Any changes we do with this
techniques, is stored in the adjustment layer which can be edited any time and
according to our choice.
Note – took a
copy of the adjustment layer before flatten the image. Else the entire
procedure may come to in vain.
Friends let’s
start with technique no 1.
1. Desaturate
This is the easiest
or fastest way to convert a colour image in to B/W.
The process
is:
Image > Adjustment > Desaturate
that’s all. It is a single click procedure.
Pros: The easiest way
Cons: You do not have any control over the conversion
Image > Adjustment > Desaturate
that’s all. It is a single click procedure.
Pros: The easiest way
Cons: You do not have any control over the conversion
2. Convert to Greyscale
This is one
of the easiest ways to convert a colour image in to B/W. When we choose this
option to change the mode of the image, we just discard / get rid of – the colour
information of the image.
The process
is:
Image > Mode > Grey Scale
Click - Discard
Pros: The easiest way
Cons: You do not have any control over the conversion
Note: While doing this Photoshop gently ask you to use Black & White techniques to control the B/W conversion.
Image > Mode > Grey Scale
Click - Discard
Pros: The easiest way
Cons: You do not have any control over the conversion
Note: While doing this Photoshop gently ask you to use Black & White techniques to control the B/W conversion.
3. Use Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer
This is one
of the ways to deal with B/W images. The main advantage here is, it is a non
destructive process and the result is available in a new adjustment layer. This
layer can be reused / edited any time before flatten the image. To use this
option:
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue / Saturation.
After selecting, the New Layer dialogue box will appear. Give a proper name, you can use previous layer as clipping mask also. You can even change the color of the new adjustment layer, its mode and opacity – Now Click OK
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue / Saturation.
After selecting, the New Layer dialogue box will appear. Give a proper name, you can use previous layer as clipping mask also. You can even change the color of the new adjustment layer, its mode and opacity – Now Click OK
In the Adjustments panel drag down the saturation to -100 which significantly eat
up all the colours from the image and make it B/W. You can adjust the lightness also.
Pros: One of the easiest way and can be applied in a new adjustment layer which can be masked according to your requirement.
Cons: You can only adjust saturation to conversion. That is the only option it provides.
Pros: One of the easiest way and can be applied in a new adjustment layer which can be masked according to your requirement.
Cons: You can only adjust saturation to conversion. That is the only option it provides.
4. Use LAB Color Method
This is an
uncommon method to convert a colorful image into B/W. First you have to change
your RGB / CMYK image into LAB mode. This mode separates the image as per its
brightness and colour information. When discard, it changes all the color info
in to B/W.
this is a destructive method as you cannot manipulate or control the image :
Process:
Image > Mode > Lab Color.
Go the Channels (Window – Channels) and select Lightness Channel
then converts the image in to Greyscale again
Pros: This process deliver more prominent B/W image that Greyscale or Hue/Saturation method.
Cons: It is a destructive process and u cannot control the conversion value.
this is a destructive method as you cannot manipulate or control the image :
Process:
Image > Mode > Lab Color.
Go the Channels (Window – Channels) and select Lightness Channel
then converts the image in to Greyscale again
Pros: This process deliver more prominent B/W image that Greyscale or Hue/Saturation method.
Cons: It is a destructive process and u cannot control the conversion value.
5. Use Gradient Map
This is also
a very useful non-destructive method to convert colour image in to B/W. This
tool maps the Black & White gradient to the Brightness & Darkness of
the image i.e. after mapping the brighter areas become white and darker area
become black.
Process:
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map
The new layer dialog box will appear. Give a name; you can change the colour of the layer, mode and opacity also.
Click - OK
Select the Black & White Gradient and Click OK
Pros: One of the fastest and non destructive method
Cons: You cannot control the conversion
Process:
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map
The new layer dialog box will appear. Give a name; you can change the colour of the layer, mode and opacity also.
Click - OK
Select the Black & White Gradient and Click OK
Pros: One of the fastest and non destructive method
Cons: You cannot control the conversion
6. Use Channel Mixture
This is the
most important tool that allows converting a colour photograph into B/W keeping
the full information in the photographs. By adjusting three colour channel Red,
Green & Blue and selection the Monochrome button we achieve the desired B/W
output.
In
Monochrome, increasing the value of any channel lightens the colour and darkens
its opposite colour. For instance, if
you increase red channel in your photo, it will lighten the red and darken the
green tone. While doing this, you need a constant eye on the total value of the
channels (RGB) and have to keep it within 100%.
Process:
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Channel Mixture
Process:
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Channel Mixture
Select
the Monochrome Dialogue Box
Slide
the R, G & B channel as per your choice keeping total value 100%
(Red:80%) (Green: 10%) (Blue: 10%) has lighten the red tone from the Rose and has darken the blue sky
(Red:80%) (Green: 10%) (Blue: 10%) has lighten the red tone from the Rose and has darken the blue sky
(Red: 20%)
(Green: 40%) (Blue: 40%) has darken the red tone in the Rose and has lighten
the blue sky. (See the differences in above pics)
7. Channel Layers
7. Channel Layers
This is also
a very quick and simple process to convert image into B/W. It’s a destructive
process that doesn’t let you any control over the conversion.
Process:
Go to Channel > Select any of the Channel option from (RGB / CMYK)
All select the layer > Convert it into Greyscale
Process:
Go to Channel > Select any of the Channel option from (RGB / CMYK)
All select the layer > Convert it into Greyscale
Pros: Simple & easy procedure
Cons: This process do not have any control over the conversion
8. Use Threshold
This is a non-Destructive
technique by which we can convert any grey / colour image to 100% Black &
White. By this process we can get high contrast B/W picture only. No grey scale
or any black tint. While converting the lighter part become white and the dark
part become black. This is very unique process to determine lightest and
darkest part of nay image.
Process:
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Threshold
Move the adjustment slider left or right to get the desired result
Process:
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Threshold
Move the adjustment slider left or right to get the desired result
Pros: It is non destructive process and help to get the lightest and darkest
part of any image
Cons: No Shading / Tint is available in the process. It delivers only flat color.
Cons: No Shading / Tint is available in the process. It delivers only flat color.
9. Black & White Adjustment Layer
This is also
one of the most interesting non-destructive methods to change any colour photo
into B/W. This process gives us the facility to adjust all 6 channels at a time
i.e. we can adjust - red, green blue, cyan, magentas and yellow at a time.
The most
interesting part is the “Target Adjustment Tool” with which we can click and
select any colour tone in the image and make it lighter and darker by Click
& Drag.
Process:
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black & White
The
new Adjustment Dialogue Box appears, give a name, you also may change the layer
colour, mode and opacity - then click OK
The Black & White Adjustment layer appears. Move the six adjustment value right (for lighter) and left (for darker)
The Black & White Adjustment layer appears. Move the six adjustment value right (for lighter) and left (for darker)
You
can also select the “Target Adjustment Tool” and
click on the image. Pick the colour and holding the mouse drag left or right to
make it lighter or darker.
(Red: 100) (Yellow:
25) (Green: 75) (Cyan: 60) (Blue: 20) (Magenta: 80) has lighten the red tone in
the Rose and has darken Green & Blue in the above picture.
Pros: Most
flexible and advance way for B/W conversion
Cons: It is not available in lower version
Cons: It is not available in lower version
So, friends, here
we discussed almost 9 procedures for B/W conversion techniques. Hope you will
like it. At FroggyLeap we keep on discussing many aspects of Photoshop. So do
photoshop and learn from the best Photoshop Training Institute in Kolkata.
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