Getting started: Convert color to black-and-white
You can use this tutorial with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements versions 7 and 8.
Convert an image to black-and-white in Adobe® Photoshop® Elements. Use presets to adjust the style of the black-and-white image. Then, use sliders to adjust the light and contrast.
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Requirements
To complete this tutorial, install the following software:
Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 or later
Creating a black-and-white photo
When you are ready to convert a color photo, go to the Full Edit workspace in Photoshop Elements and use the black and white converter adjustment.
- Start Photoshop Elements.
- Open a photo in the Editor workspace, and make sure Full Edit is selected.
- Select Enhance > Convert To Black and White. The Convert to Black and White dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Convert to Black and White dialog box
You see the color image beside how the black-and-white image looks with the current adjustments. You can start by selecting a style from the options in the lower-left in the dialog box. Then use the sliders on the right to adjust the image.
- Click Infrared Effect from the list of styles. A preview of the selected style appears in the dialog box.
- Click Newspaper to see a different look and different set of sliders.
- Preview the Portrait, Scenic Landscape, Urban/Snapshots, and Vivid Landscape styles.
- Click to select the Newspaper style again. There are separate sliders for Red, Green, Blue, and Contrast.
- Experiment with the sliders to change the look of the black and white image.
Notice the Undo, and Redo buttons in the dialog box. You can use these buttons to move back and forward between changes as you try different settings. You can click Reset to return to the default settings at any time.
- Click OK to accept your changes.
Where to go from here
If you enjoyed this tutorial, check out these other resources to help get you started using Photoshop Elements.
- Photoshop Elements Essentials for Windows tutorials on lynda.com
- Photoshop Elements shows on Adobe TV
- Photoshop Elements Help and Support
- Creating text
- Editing text
About the authors
Jan Kabili is senior trainer and evangelist at lynda.com. She has authored numerous books on Adobe software, including How to Wow: Photoshop CS2 for the Web, Photoshop CS Complete Course, Photoshop Elements Complete Course, and Photoshop ImageReady Hands on Training for the Web (with Lynda Weinman). In addition to her lynda.com training videos which include Photoshop Elements 3 Essential Training, and Photoshop CS3 for the Web Essential Training, she has written many articles for leading software publications such as Macworld, Photoshop User, and Mac Design magazines. Jan has not only contributed to the Adobe Classroom, but she is a published photographer and digital artist, with a Master of Fine Arts degree from University of Colorado at Boulder, and a law degree from Stanford Law School.
In Photoshop Elements 7 for Windows Essential Training, Jan Kabili shares workflow techniques for organizing, editing, creating projects, and sharing. She also demonstrates how to enhance photos with this budget-friendly software. Jan explains the latest updates to the Organizer and Editor workspaces, and also covers new features like the Smart Brush tool and Photoshop.com integration. Elements is very well known for its project features, and Jan shows how to create books, collages, panoramas, and more. Example files accompany the course.
