Converting to B&W in Photoshop

[ChrisLumix]

It's easy to convert a colour image to B&W in Photoshop, right? 

 

Well, yes. Take this image of a hot air balloon:

 

 

Then in Photoshop, go into Image --> Mode --> Grayscale, and job done :

 

 

From there, you can adjust the contrast, levels, noise, whatever you want to achieve (the image above has not been adjusted, but it could be).

 

 

(don't reply yet.. more to come!)

[NannyFerret]

A nice easy to understand description too. I have done it in other programs like this too.
There is even a filter in Picasa for those who don't have PS.

Thanks Chris.

[ChrisLumix]

However, this is only part of the story. If all you want is a straight conversion, then the above step is quick, it's easy, and it will serve you well for many images.

 

But, in the days of film photography, before digital, before Photoshop, B&W photography was a whole science and art unto itself. And if you've seen work by the likes of Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and many others, you will appreciate just how much of an art it was.

 

One aspect of B&W photography was to directly affect the range of greyscale tonal values by the use of coloured filters over the lens. This can be digitally simulated, and to illustrate how, the same image has been used, but this time using the Channel Mixer in Photoshop. (Image --> Adjustments --> Channel Mixer...). Open this dialogue, and click the Monochrome option. You will see three sliders, Red, Green, Blue. These can be adjusted to adjust the tonal values, with dramatic results. 

 

The following image had the Red slider to 100%, the others to 0:

 

 

This one was Green to 100%, the others to 0:

 

 

This one was Blue to 100%, the others to 0:

 

 

These show the extremes, with each colour channel set to 100%, the others to 0%. However, you can adjust more than one slider, and see the effect it has. Just remember that if you want the same exposure and levels as the original, make sure the sliders all add up to 100%. Play around with it, but you will see that Black & White isn't just a simple On or Off feature. It can be adjusted every bit as much as colour can, and hopefully this tutorial has whetted your appetite!

Edited August 27, 2013 by ChrisLumix

[colinb]

well yes but you might find the results much better:

 

image/adjustments/channel mixture

if you adjust sliders try to keep the total to 100

and of course levels and curves might well be worth a tweak too.

 

just goes to show why Photoshop is so versatile

 

 

edit - Chris I think you did the second post will I was typing my reply!

Edited August 27, 2013 by colinb

[ChrisLumix]

well yes but you might find the results much better:

 

image/adjustments/channel mixture

if you adjust sliders try to keep the total to 100

and of course levels and curves might well be worth a tweak too.

 

just goes to show why Photoshop is so versatile

 

 

edit - Chris I think you did the second post will I was typing my reply!

 

Yes, that's why I wrote "Don't reply yet - more to come" !!

Edited August 27, 2013 by ChrisLumix

[ChrisLumix]

One more dramatic example : 

 

This was of a warehouse fire, predominantly orange tones as you can imagine. The first example is Channel Mixer, Red 100%, the second is Channel Mixer, Green 100%.

 

 

 

 

That's it - I've done now!

[colinb]

Yes, that's why I wrote "Don't reply yet - more to come" !!

 

might be an idea to put that at the start of your post 

Edited August 27, 2013 by colinb