This tutorial is to help you learn how to decide which source
channels you should accent when converting a photo to black and
white. Most people think that there is only one kind of black
and white, but in reality there are countless different
combinations. Ok, once you have your picture open in photoshop:
1. In order to
find which color source channel would work best for your photo:
Select the channels section of the Layers Menu (if
the Channels section isn't shown, select if from the Window Menu),
then deselect all the channels except one.
2. To Start out I
tried the Red Channel because it is the most commonly used
for black and white conversion.
3. Then try the
Green Channel to see if you like it better, (in the photo I
used, it made more contrast between the building and the white
entrance). Also keep in mind that if you like more than just one
channel, you can convert to black and white with a mixture of source
channels. 4.
Then try the Blue Channel to see if you like it at all, (in
the photo I used, it made the building and door even darker, I think
I like the Green and Red channels better for this photo).
5. Now you have to make a
decision which Channel you liked the most, for my photo I decided
that I like the Green and Red channel equally so I will now convert
the photo to black and white using 50% of each.
6. To convert the
photo to black and white using those channels first create a New
Channel Mixer Adjustment Layer (Layer>New Adjustment Layer >Channel
Mixer). Then Select the checkbox next to where it says
Monochrome. Then Adjust the Source Channels to what you
wanted, for this photo I wanted 50% Red and Green.
For different photos, the best looking combinations will almost always
be different. Many professional photographers experiment with
many source channel combinations and eventually develop their own
unique black and white style. |
