Adobe Photoshop CS6 Top 100 Simplified Tips and Tricks by Lynette Kent

CONVERT A PHOTO to a high-contrast stylized image
You can create a unique design using a high-contrast
black-and-white image and a gradient background or
fill. You can easily transform any photograph into a
high-contrast black-and-white image using an
adjustment layer. You visually control the maximum
contrast in your photo and determine the areas to
turn black and the areas to change to white. You can
customize the design by adding a solid color or a
colored gradient and using a blend mode to combine
the effects.
Start with either a color or a grayscale image and add
a Threshold adjustment layer to convert the image to
high-contrast black and white. By adding another
adjustment layer with a color or a gradient fill and
then setting the top layer to either the Lighter Color
or Darker Color blend mode, you can give the design
a completely different look. All the changes you make
are applied using adjustment layers so the image
remains completely editable, enabling you to
experiment and try different colors and gradients until
you find the best design for your project.
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1 With an image open, click the
Threshold button in the
Adjustments panel.
Note: Select an image with strong
contrasting areas for the best
results.
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2
5
The Threshold properties panel
appears and the color
information in the photo is
changed to either black or white.
2 Click and drag the Properties
panel title bar so you can see the
photo.
3 Click and drag the slider to the
right to make more tonal values
shift to black or to the left to
change more tones to white.
4 Click the New Adjustment Layer
button.
5 Click Gradient.
Note: Clicking Solid Color produces
a two-tone stylized effect with only
one color and either white or black.
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