The basics

Step 1 >> Select Image > Mode >
Grayscale and then click on the OK
button in the Discard Color warning
box.
ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 5.0 FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Step 2 >> Using the Levels control,
map the dark pixels to black by
dragging the black point slider to the
right.
Converting color to black and white
One of the real advantages of shooting digital is the ease
with which you can convert color images to black and
white. Gone are the days of having to carry two camera
bodies, one loaded with color fi lm the other with black and
white. Now you simply shoot color all the time and then
convert selected images to black and white using a few
Step 3 >> Correct the highlights by
dragging the white point slider to the
left.
Increase contrast >> By moving the black
simple steps.
and white input sliders towards the center
of the dialog you can increase the contrast
of your picture.
6.12 Changing the mode to grayscale
Suitable for Elements – 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, 1.0 | Diffi culty level – Basic | Resources – Web image 6.12 | Related
techniques – 6.13, 6.14 | Menus used – Image, Enhance
The simplest way to lose the colors in your picture is to convert the image to a grayscale. This
process changes the photograph from having three color channels (red, green and blue) to being
constructed of a single channel that contains the picture’s detail only. Often this conversion
produces a fl at and lacklustre photograph and so a little manipulation of the tones is in order. My
fi rst point of call to help solve this problem would always be the Levels dialog (Enhance > Adjust
Brightness and Contrast > Levels). Using this control you can make sure that your image tones
are spread across the grayscale spectrum.
Most grayscale conversion pictures need a general contrast increase. You can achieve this by
moving the black and white input sliders towards the center of the dialog. Holding the Alt key
down whilst you are moving the slider will enable you to preview the pixels that are being converted
to pure black or pure white. Your aim is to map the darkest pixels in the picture to black
and the lightest ones to white. Work carefully here as a heavy handed approach will produce
pictures where delicate shadow and highlight details are lost forever.
Book resources at: www.adv-elements.com
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IMAGE CHANGES –
BEYOND THE BASICS