10 ways to convert color photo to Black and white

10 ways to convert to Black and white

Bandon, California, USA

1. Gray scale

The oldest and most simple method.

In photoshop go to:
Image --> Mode --> Grayscale

2. Desaturate

In Photoshop go to:
Image --> Adjustments --> Hue/Saturation
Move the slider down to -100
(can be done through adjustment layers)

3. Gradient map
In Photoshop go to:
Image -->Adjustments --->Gradient map
Select gradient from Black to white
(can be done through adjustment layers)

4. Match Color

In Photoshop go to:
Image --> ajustments ----> Match color
Put Color intensity to 1 check in th box for neutralize
Further options can be found under source and use a previous converted image.

5. Lightness
In Photoshop go to:
Image --> Mode --> Lab color
Select channels
Throw out a and b channels
return to RGB with
Image --> Mode --> Grayscale

6. Color blend
In Photoshop make new layer
layer --> New fill layer --> solid color
select black
Select the layer and change its blending mode to color

7. Calculation

In Photoshop select:
Image --> Calculations
Lot of options to choose from in
Source 1 og Source 2
also in blending

8. Channel mixer

In Photoshop select:
Image --> adjustments --> Channel mixer
Check monochrome
Move the slider until satisfied
try to hold total at 100%
(can be done through adjustment layers)

9. Film and filter method
In Photoshop select:
Layers --> new adjustment layers --> Hue/saturation
Put saturation to -100
Rename the layer to film
select background
make new Hue/saturation layer
Layers --> new adjustment layers --> Hue/saturation
Rename this layer to filter
change blending mode to color
Use the hue slider in this layer until satisfied.

10. Black and white
In PS CS3 there is a mega way based on channel mixer
Users of Lightroom should welcome this method as it is based on similar grounds.
In Photoshop select:
Image --> adjustments ---> Black and White
Here you can play endlessly with sliders to get the best result
There are many ways to use this meathod that I will explain later on.
(can be done through adjustment layers)

Now start practicing

or you could read more about it in:

black and white pipeline

black and white pipeline