Black and white has been a classic photographic style ever since the first print came out of the darkroom. There is something about the tones and shapes that draws one into the image. However, with digital cameras, many have said that unless you want to invest in hours of work and study or expensive plug-ins, you cannot take good black and white photographs. This is not the case! With just a little knowledge and a few clicks, you can create stunning black and white images using both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Why Not to Do What the Books Tell You
Let’s start with the most common way that some instructors tell us how to create a black and white image from a color digital image. A lot of them will say to go to Image>Mode>Grayscale. This will not only change the image to black and white, but will also change the color mode of the image. This is not the best way to make a color image black and white, however – It tends to make the image look flat. Contrast is key to making a striking black and white image!
(*A Note on Color Modes: Modes are important when you are trying to print, since some printers can only print certain color modes. RGB and CYMK are the most common color modes, and some printers can only print in one of these modes. Know which mode you need to be in, and change it at any time by going to Image>Mode.)
Why It’s Easier to Always Shoot in Color
While on the subject of converting images from color to black and white, let’s talk about cameras that offer the option of shooting in black and white. I tend to only shoot in color and change the images in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements (rather than shoot them in-camera as black and white) for two reasons.
- There are more creative ways of modifying the color of an image that will produce richer, more dynamic black and white photographs.
- As a portrait photographer who used film for many years, it seemed that whenever I got creative and shot with black and white film, someone would always want that same image in color too! That’s kind of hard to do when the image is only in one format. This is true for some digital cameras too. For me, it is easier and faster to shoot in color and have the option for different looks later.
The Best Way to Achieve Stunning Black & White Photographs
So what is a better way to get black and white from color if we are not going to use Grayscale? In both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements there is an Adjustment layer called “Gradient Map.” Using this handy tool will help you create richer, fuller black and whites in your image. Here are the steps that you will need to go through:
- Open your color image in Photoshop. Be sure that it is in the correct mode (RGB or CYMK).
- Click on the little black and white squares above the larger squares in the left-handed toolbox (pictured here). This changes the palette colors to the default: pure black and white.
Click this to reset your color palette to default
- 3. Move over to your Layers pallet (it is normally on the right-hand side of the screen) and click the Adjustment Layer button (a circle that is half black, half white). Choose “Gradient Map.”
You’re done! You should have a black and white image that is dynamic and vibrant in tone. The reason that this method gives such better tone is that his adjustment lays down a better tonal range, giving much richer blacks and whites as they relate to the tones of the colors. Plus, being an adjustment layer, it is non-destructive and does not change the color mode of your original image. You are still in the RGB color mode. Furthermore, if you need this image back in color, simply turn off the Adjustment Layer (click the eye next to the layer in your Layer Palette)!
Another image example: The right side is before the gradient map, and the left is after
Keep watching this series for more tips on other ways to make black and white images with more control over tones. We will even learn how to “select” pieces of color in an image, to make a photo black and white with only certain accent colors showing up. Stay tuned!
Need more help mastering these concepts? Register for one of our Digital Photography courses today!