Whats the best way to turn a photo into b&w in Photoshop?

Question

Not all black&white pictures are the same. I want to know what the best way to turn a picture into black&white is. When i go into Channels and turn off the red and yellow(?) and leave just the blue, it turns into a really cool black&white picture(sort of dark which makes it look really dramatic)

Answer 1

High contrast Black and White in Photoshop

Open the desired photo in photoshop

In the layers palette click the Create New adjustment Layer pop-up menu (the half white half black circle)

In the pop-up menu select Gradient Map

When the Gradient Map dialog appears select Black and White

Click OK to apply this gradient

Your image will turn B&W



WAIT! Your not finished.

Click the Create New adjustment Layer pop-up menu again.

This time select Channel Mixer

When the Chanel Mixer dialog appears

Click the Monochrome checkbox

Now Lower the Constant slider to -8 to darken the image

lower the red channel to about +75

lower the green channel to about +26

lower the blue channel to about +34



Experement with the different RBG channels to get the desired effect

This is just one of the many ways to do B&W in photoshop



I recomend this book-

The Photoshop CS2 book for digital photographers by Scott Kelby

Answer 2

You have basically answered your own question. Use channel mixer to get the look you want. There is no right or wrong... that is the art of it.



Personally, I like to save one photo each of 100% Red, 100% Blue, and 100% Green. I then open them side by side so I can see exactly what each channel is doing to the photo. I then set up a "mix" of channels that I think will look best. So I may have something like 70% red, 20% green, and 10% blue.



It is suggested to not go over 100% on the totals though.



You will find that in some photos 100% blue will make it look horrible, and in others look great. It all depends on the original photo content and color make up.



steve

Answer 3

I typically go in and go to image-mode-cmyk

image-adjustment-brightnes/con.

image-adjustment-hue/sat.

image-adjustment-selective color

image-mode-grayscale

image-adjustment-brightness/con again



Though your way seems better than mine.