Get Better Black & White Images
Matt shows off a “killer” alternative to Elements’ Convert to Black and White command, using Gradient Map and Levels adjustment layers.
If you're a current subscriber, please Log in again to continue.
(Sorry for the hassle!)
- Click here to log in.
- Not a subscriber? Subscribe today!
- Want to see more first? Get a free sample issue.
Related Tags: black and white conversion
Twila
January 1, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Cool! Thanks Matt.
Steve
January 2, 2012 at 9:06 am
Matt, that is an AWESOME tutorial, wow, you are so correct, the difference is hugh. Thanks so much!!!!
Howard
January 2, 2012 at 10:03 am
Happy New Year. A great technique for improving B&W images. Thanks!
Tony
January 2, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Very cool technique! Thanks!
Alfred
January 3, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Hi Matt, …thanks for a great presentation and wonderful result from a differing viewpoint, lovely stuff, keep ‘em coming “Ben”
Kevin
January 3, 2012 at 3:18 pm
I love this procedure. It reminds me of the effects I use to get when I was printing black and white photos. Definitely a must use method. I Love it. Once you get use to using it being able to drag and drop your changes makes it a real time saver.
Tony
January 4, 2012 at 2:05 am
Thank you, Matt, for this great technique
Margaret
January 4, 2012 at 11:10 am
That really makes a big difference. Definitely will be using this technique.
RALPH
January 4, 2012 at 8:39 pm
Matt.
Your knowledge and skill in Elements is beyond excellent.
Ansel Adams did unequaled B&W for sure because that’s all he had.
I love lots of B&W.
But why change a good colored pix to it?
We see in color
We expect color and are exposed to it every day.
If you want B/W try to use Ansel’s zone system in your chemical darkroom and let me know how you make out.
This is not critisism of you but just an old photographer who thinks that there are very few people today that could compete with the likes of Ansel Adams with the equipment that he had to deal with.
Digital photography will NEVER equal his work.
If you love and appreciate his skill you will never compare it to todays stuff.
We accept it because thats all we see, but don’t compare it to the masters if you don’t want to be disappointed.
RALPH
January 4, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Criticism is spelled criticism, sorry!!
Clay
January 7, 2012 at 7:44 am
@Ralph: I didn’t hear Matt so much as mention Ansel Adams (who also saw in color) in the tutorial, nor draw any comparisons between zone system B&W (film and print) photography and current digital photography and editing. And, who among us actually has the resources to do zone system work anyway?
I respectfully submit that the reason we convert from color to B&W is … why wouldn’t we? If you shoot in digital B&W you NEVER have the option of returning to a color version if desired. Matt’s techniques in this tutorial arm us with more tools to take great control over our B&W edits, and he never compares it to the zone system, nor “the masters”.
Further, achieving output closer to Adams’ results (using digital formats) also requires very high quality inks and paper, and printers that you don’t often find at, say, Office Depot. I’m not itching for a fight here, Ralph, but if you can’t find contemporary digital B&W photography out there that takes your breath away the way Ansel’s work does, then I just don’t think you’re looking hard enough!
Sincerely And Respectfully,
Clay
Jason
January 11, 2012 at 1:52 pm
I’m very new to PSE and am trying to soak up as much as possible through the tutorials and articles. It’s a lot of fun trying these out on many of the unedited images I’ve had just sitting on my computer for years. I have one question that I came across during this tutorial. At one point Matt dragged the first image off the dock and dragged another image into the workspace so he could then drag and drop the layers. I can not get my original image to undock. I’m using PSE 10 on a MacBook Pro. I’ve looked around in different forums and can’t seem to find the answer. Does anyone here know why I’m unable to undock the image, or how I can go about doing this? Thanks!
Donald
January 11, 2012 at 4:07 pm
I really appreciated the ease with which this process could be accomplished. As a beginner with PSE I also want to enjoy/have fun trying these new techniques. Isn’t that what digital photography is supposed to be about? Great job Matt. Thanks for all your efforts.
Robert
January 18, 2012 at 5:23 pm
I downloaded this to my .winvista laptop. My download won’t play because of the .mov extension. What to do?
Leo
January 19, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Excellent !!
Bennett
February 13, 2012 at 10:51 am
Worked great on 50 year old b&w my dad took of me. Before and after loaded in public folder.
Shannon
March 8, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Wow, thank-you Matt! I have many black and white that now need re-doing!! Can’t wait!
Linda
March 25, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Can you, Matt, or anyone here tell me why I can view but not HEAR any of the videos from this website? I’ve checked to make sure my volume is turned up, have tried viewing it on a separate page, and have even tried viewing on different browsers … Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Firefox … to no avail. HELP! I really want to be able to learn from these videos!
(I can hear YouTube videos just fine, so I know it’s not a connection issue.)
Thanks for any help you can give me. One of the best parts about having a subscription is being able to view the videos.
Bruce
May 20, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Thanks Matt! I love B/W and this just opened up a new world for me in adjusting them.
Maxine
February 25, 2013 at 7:32 am
How do I drag and drop layers on a PC?