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As with most image manipulation jobs in Photoshop, there are several ways of undertaking most tasks. A second method of achieving monochrome images from colour is to use Lab Colour.
STEP 1: Open your image in Photoshop. I have opened my "James" image. 
STEP 2: Go to IMAGE - MODE - LAB COLOUR and click on it. 
STEP 3: If your Channels/Layers/Paths Palette is not open, go to WINDOW on the top menu and click on Channels. It should look like this, showing 4 channels. 
Select the LIGHTNESS CHANNEL and your image instantly goes to a grayscale look. STEP 4: Go to IMAGE - MODE - GRAYSCALE, click and accept the option to discard other channels. 
STEP 5: You will now most likely need to tweak the image a little to achieve maximum effect. Go to IMAGE - ADJUSTMENTS -LEVELS and click on it. A new dialogue box comes up which looks like this. 
You will notice that there are 3 triangles under the histogram. The one on the left gives information about the Blacks, the one on the Right about the Whites and the Middle one about the Mid-tones. You need to pull the Black and White triangles in to the beginning of each end of the histogram. That will ensure that the blacks are really black and the whites really white and not grey. Tweaking the mid-tones with the middle triangle is a matter of choice. By pulling it to the right, the mid-tones will darken, or alternatively, by pulling to the left, will brighten. Experiment until you are happy with the effect. Then Click OK.
In my image, I have pulled the Blacks in a small amount to 13(See input levels over the histogram) and the Whites to 242. My mid-tones were not adjusted as I was happy with their look. Overall the contrast in the monochrome image has been much improved. You will also notice that as you adjust each part of the levels, your image is also adjusting. If not, make sure the Preview box on the bottom right of the Levels box is ticked. 
STEP 6: Click on your LAYER Palette and duplicate the layer by pulling it down to the New Layer icon at the bottom of the palette. 
The new layer will be described as Background copy. This is now the active layer - you know because the layer is highlighted in blue.
Change the Blending Mode (Normal is the default) to MULTIPLY. This gives a very definite Black and White look to the image. 
Adjust the Opacity, next door to the Blending Mode, to your liking, 100% may look too strong. I have chosen 68% for my image. 
Finally, go to LAYER - FLATTEN IMAGE and the two layers become one. 
STEP 7: Finish by saving your image. FILE - SAVE AS.
By using "Save As" instead of "Save" you save your new monochrome and your original colour image is also kept intact. I saved mine as "James_mono". Merely, using "Save" will cause your original colour image to be overwritten by the monochrome one. Now, go and create your own!! Good luck. Author: Harry Reynolds Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts) |
