How to Combine a Black and White Picture With a Picture That Has Been Made Into Vintage Art

Black and white photography is as popular as ever, and, with digital software like Adobe Photoshop, information technology'southward never been easier to convert your digital images.

In this article we'll run through some of the nearly popular black and white conversion methods, outlining the pros and cons of each. Instructions are provided for Photoshop CS and, if the technique's available, Photoshop Elements. The techniques we cover:

1. Convert to Greyscale (Subversive)
2. Hue/Saturation Tool (Non-subversive)
3. Lab Color Method (Destructive)
4. Gradient Map (Non-destructive)
5. Aqueduct Mixer (Not-destructive)
6. Twin Hue/Saturation Method (Non-destructive)
7. Blackness and White Adjustment Layer Method (Not-destructive)
8. Camera Raw adjustment layer (Smart Objects, non-destructive)
9. Look-Upwards Tables (non-destructive)

In case you don't want to read through every technique, we recommend the final two techniques for nearly people: using the Camera Raw filter and LUTs.

Blackness and White Deportment

If y'all're looking for some great Photoshop Actions to exercise the work for yous, then in that location'southward plenty of option over at Envato Elements where you tin can download unlimited resource for a monthly subscription.

Yous could kickoff with this set of 31 Professional person Black & White Photoshop Deportment which gives you a wide range of options for creating different black and white effects depending on the look you're going for.

31 Professional Blackness & White Photoshop Actions, from Envato Elements

How to Convert a Colour Photograph to Black and White in Photoshop

Converting to black and white digitally has a number of advantages. By starting with a colour photo and converting information technology to black and white in Photoshop, you lot take consummate command over the conversion.

For the best possible conversion, start past shooting in RAW. Then, in your RAW conversion software, output the photo as a 16-scrap Tiff file. 16-bit files have a lot more information to work with than 8-bit files, which makes for a better conversion with smoother tonal graduations.

Nearly digital SLRs (and some compacts) have a black and white mode. The camera is making the conversion for you lot, and the results are usually poor, giving flat, done out photos. It'due south usually best to avert this mode, and use the following techniques instead.

Black and White Conversions

Photoshop and Photoshop Elements offer both destructive and non-destructive black and white conversion techniques. Subversive methods are ones that can't exist re-adjusted afterwards. In one case you've made the conversion, the only style to modify it is to undo the conversion and get-go again.

Non-destructive methods apply Photoshop's aligning layers. The changes that yous make to your photo are stored in a layer, and the original photo remains unchanged underneath. Then, when you lot're washed, you flatten the image and information technology'due south as this stage that Photoshop makes all the changes to the photo permanent. You can edit the conversion at any time earlier flattening the image by clicking on the Aligning Layer icon.

Not-destructive photo editing is always better than destructive photo editing!

a non subversive adjustment layer

1. Convert to Greyscale (Destructive)

The simplest blackness and white conversion method, converting to grayscale discards all the colour information in the photo.

1. Image > Mode > Grayscale
2. Click 'Discard'

The method is the aforementioned for both Photoshop and Elements.

• Pros: Quick and piece of cake.
• Cons: You take no command over the conversion.

2. Utilize the Hue/Saturation Tool (Non-destructive)

This method gives exactly the aforementioned result as converting to greyscale and adding a black and white adjustment layer. The advantage is that it'southward available as an adjustment layer, and tin be used as function of a non-destructive editing process.

Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements:

1. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation
2. Click 'OK'
3. Movement the Saturation slider all the fashion to the left (-100) and press 'OK'

• Pros: Quick and easy and and can be applied every bit an adjustment layer in both Photoshopand Elements.
• Cons: You have no control over the conversion.

Reduce the Saturation to 0

3. Lab Color Method (Subversive)

This technique converts your photo from RGB color mode way to Lab colour manner. Lab mode records the brightness and color values separately, meaning in Lab y'all tin can discard the colour information to get out a black and white prototype. It'south not bachelor in Photoshop Elements.

1. Epitome > Mode > Lab Colour
2. Become to the Channels window if it'southward already open (if non get to Window > Channel) and select the Lightness aqueduct
3. Image > Mode > Grayscale
4. Click 'OK'

• Pros: Gives a black and white conversion that is, theoretically, more mathematically accurate. Whether it's a pleasing conversion depends on the pic.
• Cons: Destructive editing process that doesn't give you much control.

four. Gradient Map (Non-subversive)

The Gradient Map tool maps a black and white gradient to the effulgence values of your photograph. Dark areas go black or dark greyness and highlights white or lite grayness.

1. Press 'D' to reset the foreground and groundwork colours to black and white.
2. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map
3. Click 'OK'

Gradient Map technique

• Pros: Quick and easy not-subversive black and white conversion
• Cons: No command over the conversion

5. Channel Mixer (Non-destructive)

The Channel Mixer is the beginning black and white conversion tool listed hither that truly begins to apply the full potential of the information independent in the color photo.

Colour photos have 3 colour channels; red, greenish and bluish. These main colours combine to brand the millions of colours in your photo. The Aqueduct Mixer conversion method lets you adjust the ratios between the red, geen and bluish channels.

Lightening the value of a channel with the channel mixer lightens colours close to information technology on the color wheel and darkens the colours that are opposite information technology. Increase the value of the red channel, for instance, and you'll brand the red tones in your photograph lighter and the blue ones darker. This has the event of lightening skin tones and darkening blueish skies.

Channel Mixer is the digital equivalent of black and white photographers using colour filters. Setting the brightness of the cerise channel to 100% gives the same upshot every bit using a red filter on the lens with black and white moving-picture show. Information technology's non available in Photoshop Elements.

Photoshop CS:

1. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Channel Mixer
2. Tick the Monochrome box.
3. Move the Cherry, Light-green and Blue sliders to the left and right to lighten and darken different tones in the photo. The total of the three sliders should be 100% at all times.
4. Click 'OK' when you're done.

Channel Mixer method

• Pros: Gives you a loftier degree of control over the blackness and white conversion.
• Cons: Not every bit flexible every bit the next two techniques. Not available in Photoshop Elements.

vi. Twin Hue/Saturation Method (Non-destructive)

This technique uses two Hue/SaturationAdjustment Layers. The acme layer is a straight monochrome conversion. The bottom layer changes the colours of the original photo, which in plough changes the tones in the black and white conversion. It gives you a fine caste of control.

Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements:

1. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation and click 'OK'
2. Move the Saturation slider all the way to the left (-100) and click 'OK'
3. Activate the background by clicking on it
4. Layer > New Aligning Layer > Hue/Saturation and click 'OK'
5. Click 'OK'
6. Alter the blending manner of the bottom Hue/Saturation layer to 'Color'
7. Double click the bottom Hue/Saturation layer's icon
8. Move the Hue slider left or right and picket the tones change! You lot can also experiment with the Saturation and Lightness sliders.
9. Click 'OK' when you're done.

Twin hue/saturation method

• Pros: Extremely fine caste of command over the monochrome conversion.
• Cons: None, merely less control than another methods.

7. Black and White Adjustment Layer Method (Non-subversive)

Bachelor in Photoshop CS3 onward, the Blackness and White Aligning Layer gives you all the control of the channel mixer and twin hue/saturation techniques via six colour sliders. But the most exciting feature is its Targeted Adjustment Tool. With this tool you can adjust tones in your photo to make them lighter or darker. It's an intuitive and a precise conversion technique.

1. Layer > New Aligning Layer > Black and White
2. Click 'OK'. The Black and White toolbox appears.
3. Move the vi colour sliders right or left to burnish or darken the respective tones in the photo. You can also choose from from the presets in the drop down menu at the top.
4. Click 'OK' when you're done.

• Pros: The nigh flexible black and white conversion method available.
• Cons: Only available in Photoshop CS3 up.

Acquire more about Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

8. Use a Camera Raw Aligning Layer (Non-destructive)

Adobe Camera Raw has several means to catechumen to blackness and white, and you might already be comfortable with them. Why not utilise the same tools in Photoshop, too? Here's how:

1. Select the layer (or layers) to which you want to employ the filter. Right-click on the layer name and choose Convert to Smart Object from the context carte.
2. This conversion volition turn your layer into a Smart Object and allow you to readjust the filter settings later.
3. Click on the Filter menu again and choose Camera Raw Filter. This action will bring up the Camera Raw interface.

9. Utilise A Expect-Up Table (Non-subversive)

Here'due south a twist on the Camera Raw method that uses presets, or Look-Upwards Tables, to make the process quick and instantly repeatable.

1. Install the LUTs as nosotros cover in our tutorial, if you don't take any, bank check out the option beneath
2. Your profiles should be visible under Browse Profiles
3. Hover over each thumbnail to run into a preview, select i
4. Use the slider to arrange the strength of the consequence
5. Your other sliders are all the same at 0. Make other edits based on your called colour profile, including further changes to the colours in the Colour Mixer.

5 Cool Black and White LUTs From Envato Elements

The above techniques work well to convert your photos to blackness and white. If you want a quicker way to get these results, then cheque out these black and white LUTs from Envato Elements:

1. 50 Nostalgia Black and White LUTs Pack

If you like a classic await, try out this bundle. It features fifty unique black and white LUTs with a nostalgic way. This cinematic LUT pack can assist y'all transform your photos in a matter of clicks.

ii. 50 Black and White Wedding LUTs Pack

Are you editing photos from your large twenty-four hour period? Then try out this black and white LUT download. It was created with weddings in heed. Utilise it to add a bear upon of elegance to shots of the happy couple.

3. fifty Blackness and White Mystery LUTs Pack

For a bit of mystery, try out this cool black and white LUTs pack. The effect is easy to utilise and works for both Mac and Windows devices.

4. twenty Black&White LUTs (Look Upwardly Tables)

This bundle of 20 LUTs takes a unique approach to color correction. It applies the black and white result, just also comes with options that let a footling color to seep through. Try it out to see what y'all can create.

v. ten Blackness and White Lightroom Presets

We round out our list with these ten Lightroom presets. The results of the colour correction make your photos await similar they were shot in black and white originally.

Speaking of presets, yous tin notice xl awesome costless Lightroom downloads to make black and white photos here:

Decision

It'south worth taking the fourth dimension to experiment with these different methods when deciding how to approach black and white conversion. Some may work better for yous than others, just ever recall to keep an original copy of the image if using a subversive method and ultimately, it's ever better to work non-destructively, so you take the option to modify your mind.

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Source: https://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-convert-your-images-to-black-and-white-in-photoshop--photo-488

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