Photography: Black and White Conversions

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Hi Everyone! This is Karen bringing you a tutorial on converting your photos to black and white using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.  I know that actions are a quick and easy way, but sometimes they just don’t work for the photo you’d like to use.  I hardly ever use an action anymore since learning how to convert using a gradient map and levels.  Once you get the hang of it, it’s really quick and easy – so let’s get started :o)

Here are my steps:

1.  Open a photo.  We will be using the adjustments pallet circled in red.

2. Click on the Gradient Map icon (second from the right on the bottom).  Then, click on the long bar with the arrow.  It may be black.

3.  A box will pop up.  Click on the third preset from the left.  That should turn your image black and white

4.  Next, click on the LEVELS icon to add a levels layer.  Use the sliders to get the exact exposure that you want.  I’ve circled the middle one below which allows you to adjust the mid tones.  I play with that one the most.

5.  In this image, the sleeve on the right is too bright, so let’s make a levels adjustment for just that area.  Click on the levels icon again.  Use the middle slider to darken the whole image.

6.  Press Control (command on a mac) and the “I” key.  That will invert the levels layer, which hides the adjustments that you just made.

7.  Next, I use a soft white brush around 30% opacity and paint on the sleeve.  This will add the darkness on to just the area that you paint.  Keep painting until it looks right.

8.  I also add a contrast/brightness layer (looks like the little sun) and adjust with the sliders.

9.  Now, all you have to do is flatten your image and save it as a jpeg!

Using the gradient map and levels gives you lots of control over your conversions - so you can get them just right.

Join us tomorrow, as SP announces Blog Template Challenge {SIX}!

KarenTips and Tricks, Uncategorized 5 Comments