Everyone likes a good black and white photo, but most digital cameras can only produce color photos. This article will show you some simple ideas for converting color digital photos to black and white.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Use Photoshop's "Black & White Adjustment Layer"
Step 1. Open Photoshop
You can find it in the “Applications” folder on a Mac, or in the “Start” menu on Windows.
Step 2. Open the photo you want to modify
From the "File," menu select "Open." The photo will appear on the Photoshop desktop.
Step 3. Open the "Adjustments
Click the "Window" menu. If the menu is unchecked, select "Adjustments." The "Adjustments" window will open.
Step 4. Add "Adjustment Layer Black & White
"From the "Adjustments" window, click the "Adjustment Black & White" button which shows:
- Your photo will now be black and white.
- Using multiple color launchers, you can change the black and white balance of a photo based on basic color information.
Method 2 of 5: Use Photoshop's "Hue/Saturation Layer"
Step 1. Add "Adjustment Layer Hue/Saturation
"Start with the original color photo, then open the "Adjustment" window and click the "Hue/Saturation" button to create a new "Adjustment Layer".
Step 2. Remove color saturation
Drag the Saturation launcher until it sticks to the left. Now your photo will be black and white.
While this setting doesn't have a lot of control over the “Adjustment Layer Black & White,” there's a chance to preview the photo later if you leave some color behind, and the results can sometimes look pretty cute
Method 3 of 5: Use Photoshop's "Layer Channel Mixer"
Step 1. Add "Adjustment Layer Channel Mixer"
"From the "Adjustments" window, click the "Channel Mixer" button to create a new "Channel Mixer" layer.
Step 2. Click the "Monochrome" button on the "Channel Mixer" window, then set up the "RGB" launcher or use one of the presets from the menu
Like using the "Adjustment Layer Black & White," the controls provide flexibility to adjust the final appearance of the photo. Shifted just a little, the results will change considerably. So use it with care.
Method 4 of 5: Use Google Picasa
Step 1. Download Picasa from Google.com
Install it according to the procedure, then open it.
Step 2. Open the photo in Picasa
From the "File," menu select "Add File to Picasa…"
Step 3. Inside the Picasa window, click on the "Image Processing" tab in the middle (the brush icon)
Step 4. Filter photos
Click on any "B&W" option to see the changes right away.
Method 5 of 5: Use Another Photo Editing Tool
Step 1. Read the documentation
Most editing tools will include filters to make the photo black and white. It can be as simple as a "black & white," button or saturation setting. Experiment. Try setting up the launcher and see how it goes. Either way, you can have a lot of fun doing it.
