Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
My Three-Click Method for Converting to B&W (Once You're
Already in Photoshop)
Some of the best techniques unfold when you least expect it, and this technique is a perfect
example. I was working on a completely different technique when I stumbled upon this
and I fell in love, and now you're only three clicks away from a nice, crisp, high-contrast
B&W image (once you're already in Photoshop. Otherwise, I would do it in Camera Raw,
because you have more control). Plus, I'll show you how you can tweak your conversion,
along with a variation, with just a couple more clicks. It's a B&W clicking lovefest.
Step One:
Open the color photo you want to convert into a high-contrast B&W image. You start by
pressing the letter
D
to set your Foreground color to black, and then in the Adjustments
panel, click on the Gradient Map icon (it looks like a horizontal gradient—it's shown
circled in red here).
