Digital Photography » Photo Effects

Black and White Digital Photography Technique

Learn how to convert a color photograph to a black and white photograph.

1. Open your photograph and right click on the layer and select "Duplicate Layer" to unlock it and delete the locked layer by right clicking on it and selecting "Delete Layer" to remove it.

2. Now click on "Ctrl+U" or Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation to Desaturate the image. Select -100 for the saturation and click "OK" to apply.

3. Click "Ctrl+J" to duplicate this new layer as a new layer.

4. Right click on your new layer you just duplicated and select "Blending Options: Custom" like the image below and select "OK" to apply.

5. You will want to "Merge Down" the layers you have by pressing "Ctrl+E" or by clicking Layer > Merge Down to apply your effects.

6. Click "Ctrl+J" to duplicate this new layer as a new layer.

7. Right click on your new layer you just created and select "Blending Options: Custom" like the image below and select "OK" to apply.

8. You will want to "Merge Down" the layers you have by pressing "Ctrl+E" or by clicking Layer > Merge Down to apply your new effects again.

9. Your finished photograph should look like the one below. You can see the blacks and whites are more distinguished when you apply the same technique twice.

Last update: 2007-06-02 10:00
Author: Gary Logsdon
Revision: 1.0

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