How to Convert a Photo to Black & White Using Photoshop Calculations

Photography Tips

The best thing about Photoshop is that there are innumerable ways of getting the exact same result. For example,if you want to convert an image into black and white, you probably know more than one way of doing it already. This trick by PiXimperfect is, however, a new one to me; it involves using Calculations in Photoshop. Watch to see how it’s done:

Open the image in Photoshop and go to Image > Calculations.

This dialogue box will open up:

Now, here are a few things to keep in mind. Calculations allow you to combine two channels from two different images (or the same image, as in this case). As you have to blend together two channels from the same image, make sure that Source 1 and Source 2 are the same image.

Also, both the layers should be the background layer.

Choose the two channels that you want to work with. The next step is to choose the right blending mode. The result should be a new document. If, however, you want to edit the result further, you have to select a new channel.

Once you’re happy with the blending mode and the opacity and the channels, click OK.

A new document with your dialed in settings is created. You now have a nice black and white version of the original color image.

Check out the rest of the video for a wonderful technical explanation on how this is actually happening and a nice trick for enhancing eyes in a portrait.