Tips and Tricks: Better Black-and-White
This entry was posted on Nov 28 2007
Expansion on an article originally published at 99 Bloggers
Simply opening a photo and changing the color mode to grayscale might be the most efficient way to get from Point A to Point B, though it’s not always the best. The shades are more gray and washed-out, often resulting in a flat and uninteresting image. The kicker is that once you’ve removed the color information, it’s gone for good, along with any color adjustment options. While this works and is an acceptable way to make a black-and-white image, it can be done better.
To start off, I’ll be opening an image in Adobe Photoshop®. Duplicate the master layer and then set visibility to the copy. Instead of going straight for the Mode->Grayscale menu option, try going to Adjustments->Desaturate. The image turns into what appears to be a grayscale image, yet the color mode (RGB) is retained. More data means better quality, which is obvious in a side-by-side comparison. The Mode->Grayscale conversion method results in a lighter image as seen on the left, while the desaturated photo on the right holds on to more of the darker tones.
|
|
|
| Grayscale method | Desaturation method |
If you’re using Picasa2, simply open the image, select the “Effects” tab and then “Saturation.” Move the slider all the way to the left to desaturate the image. If this isn’t to your liking later on, no worries – Picasa2 saves a backup of the original in case you ever want to go back.
For GIMP 2 users: After duplicating the original image layer, go to Colors->Desaturate, and then select “Lightness,” “Luminosity” or “Average” based on what result you prefer. Apply this to the copied layer only and the color layer will remain untouched.
Personally, I like to keep one working version of an image if possible. Using the desaturation method accommodates this preference nicely by keeping the color image intact, allowing me the luxury of having a color layer and a grayscale layer. Since there’s color information still in the photo, I can apply photo filters, adjust hue/saturation, select color or any number of things that would not be available had I used the Mode->Grayscale option. This way, I can always go back and change something in the color layer if the first try doesn’t work, without having to search for a copy of the master source file or start over from scratch.
You could also use adjustment layers, but that’s another post.
If you need to print and the job doesn’t call for 4-color, simply open the desaturated image, change the mode to grayscale, then save as another file. The gray levels are nearly untouched, resulting in a better black-and-white image.
Increasing efficiency and usability in your imaging workflow is important and this is only ONE way to accomplish this task. Do you have a preferred method?
You might also like:
21 Responses
to “Tips and Tricks: Better Black-and-White”
Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.
Wow, you did a great work here. Great job to explain all the different ways and programs.
Susanne in Key West’s last blog post..My Wordless Sunday # 6
Thanks! Sorry for my absence as of late, but this time of year is insane. I’m focusing on content over comment, but I’ve got half of December off to catch up. More tips on the way!
Well thanks for your info, but I’m just working with my Kodakeasyshare and probably don’t want to get too deep into Black&White photos. By the way I will rate your photos as 5 stars.
I can’t find how to rate this, but just the same it is a 5 star job and really excellent work.
I thought I was suffering from deja vu until I spotted that this was the article you had written for 99 Bloggers!
This is so useful – thank you so much for expanding it!
Diane’s last blog post..Christmas is still coming?
In earlier versions of Photoshop, I adjusted the color image before converting to grayscale. With that (and “undo”), you could get a good grayscale image.
I’ve also grown used to saving multiple versions of files, but am learning to do that less now that I have CS3 across the board.
dcr’s last blog post..Blogosphere Net Balance?
This is why you’re so Gimboody! This was a great tip that helps people avoid one of the most common mistakes.
Great post, Pete!
jon
jon’s last blog post..Angry Lovers
Man, that is some uber tips there! I suck at that whole camera thang but I will use this page as a reference on our grayscale issues. Laters!
Leatherboots: Thanks – the ratings are sort of intended for the photos, but I guess I don’t make that very clear.
Diane: No problem. I’ve got a series in the works!
dcr: I forget that you’ve done loads of this back in the day. CS3…lucky dog.
jon: Thanks, I am on a mission to spread the love of Gimboody to all.
joe: Awesome, I’m a reference now!
Pete: Before CS3, I was using Photoshop 7.
dcr’s last blog post..A Good Friend
LOL, from your about page, I figured you were working in version 4 or something. I started on version 4 – it was back when photo editing was hard, and I had to do it uphill in the snow. I hear in CS4 they’re going to introduce the brain implant for hands-free editing.
I started at Photoshop 2 for a short time, then 2.5, then I used 3.0 for a loooong time before version 7. Which I then used for a looong time before CS3.
Still use PS7 as well as CS3 at work. Working on switching everything over to CS3, but, in the transition, it’s just faster to do some client work in the version it’s already in. More so with PageMaker than Photoshop, though.
dcr’s last blog post..What’s Mine Isn’t Yours
Whoa, Photoshop 2. That’s going back. I’m using PageMaker at work for stuff originally done in that format, but if I have time to spend, I’ll almost always import and re-format in InDesign. But that is if I have time. Which is never. Ever.
I started at 4.0 or 4.2 of PageMaker.
Everything is eventually going to get moved to InDesign. The slow part is moving the files to the Mac OS X computer. The Mac OS 9 computer refuses to write files over FireWire anymore, so the only way to move files to the Mac OS X computer is over the network.
New projects get done in the appropriate CS3 program. Old projects needing revisions get done in Mac OS 9 versions, because it’s usually faster that way.
dcr’s last blog post..Moments of Thanks and Recognition
Yikes, version 4.0! Wow, version 6 makes me scream, I couldn’t imagine version 4. RageMaker should be its real name.
Ha! I never really used PM6.5 and PM7 that much. Most things are in PM6. Never had too much of a problem with it.
On my home computer, I’ve been using Aldus PageMaker 5 all these years (bought it before Adobe bought Aldus). Of course, now I have InDesign.
I still use Illustrator 5.5. There are a couple things in AI5.5 that I haven’t figured out how to do yet in CS3. Sometimes, I’ve had to save a file down to AI3 (don’t know why CS3 can’t save to version 5) so that I can modify it in 5.5 and then re-open in CS3.
dcr’s last blog post..Moments of Thanks and Recognition
I use the Channel Mixer on Photoshop. It’s great fun. I’m still on CS2. Upgrading is so expensive.
Lisa’s last blog post..No Words Tonight
dcr: I haven’t heard anyone mention Aldus in ages. I was talking about this comment thread with my co-workers and they are amazed you still use Illustrator 5.5. What is it that you can’t do in 5.5 that CS3 doesn’t? Just wondering…
Lisa: Ah, the channel mixer. Too many sliders usually confuse me, but there’s yet another way to do it. I’ll have to try that sometime. I was pricing out CS3 the other day and about fell out of my chair. I forgot that I originally bought CS2 education version, so seeing the retail price was quite a shocker.
Lately, I’ve been shooting black and white, from the camera. That’s the way I like it best, but when I do want to take a color to b&w, I use Adobe Photoshop, always with desaturation as opposed to gray scale. Then I often play with the curves, too.
Secret Agent Mama’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen XVIII: ?Happy New Year!?
that is AWESOME. I love it.
meleah rebeccah’s last blog post..MySpace. Rekindling Long Lost Friendships.
Secret Agent Mama: I’m a big fan of curves over the contrast and brightness sliders. Much easier to deal with. If I could buy a camera that didn’t have on-board filters, I would. But that’s just my preference.
meleah: It’s awesome and easy. No need to fear the photoshop.