Black & Conversion of Color Files

The abscense of color can add dramtatic tone, or reinforce conceptual messages in your photography. Black and white photography is removes color from your list of creative devices, and begs the viewer to focus on qualoity of light, tone and shape to give meaning and impact to an image.

After toning your color image, you can follow these steps to create a Monochrome (Black & White) Image.

1) Select an Adjustment Layer: Channel Mixer
2) Check the Monochrome box.
3) Select Adjustment Layer again, choosing Adjustment Layers: Brightness & Contrast
4) Additional toning can be made by then applying a third Adjustment Layer: Hue & Saturation below the Channel Mixer Layer. Use the Saturation Slider to shift the tonal range of the black and white image.
5) Save your original image (Master File, 360 ppi) as a .psd with layers. This allows you to save and print both the color and black & white version within the same file. (You can always turn off the Adjustement Layers to view your original color image)