Photoshop Black & White Masterpieces with Adobe Camera RAW

Creating Striking Black and White Images in Photoshop

Achieving impactful black and white imagery with Adobe Photoshop requires more than simply selecting the "Convert to Greyscale" option. Numerous methods exist to refine your monochrome creations, and the following technique represents my preferred approach for generating images with significant contrast.

Utilizing Adobe Camera RAW

This process is best executed within the Adobe Camera RAW interface, making RAW files ideal. However, if your storage contains predominantly JPEGs, success is still attainable with Photoshop CS3 or later versions.

RAW vs. JPEG Files

First, determine whether you are working with a RAW or JPEG file, and ensure you begin with a quality photograph. RAW files are uncompressed, preserving all data captured by the camera sensor.

Adjustments to settings like exposure, white balance, and contrast are easily made in Photoshop with RAW files. JPEGs, being compressed, inevitably lose data during the compression process. This makes them less suitable for extensive post-processing. I now consistently shoot in RAW format to retain maximum flexibility.

Opening Files in Camera RAW

To process JPEGs using Adobe's Camera RAW tool, launch Bridge, locate your desired images, and right-click the file, selecting Open in Camera RAW. For RAW files, simply open them in Photoshop, which will automatically launch Adobe Camera RAW with a preview and a set of adjustable sliders.

Selecting an Image

This technique can be applied to a wide range of photographs, though results will vary. I’ve chosen a photograph of a vintage race car taken several years ago. The original file is a RAW image, initially appearing rather unremarkable.

Desaturating the Image

Begin by desaturating the image. Navigate to the HSL/Greyscale tab and check the Convert to Greyscale box. Photoshop will generate a relatively flat black and white image, accompanied by a series of color sliders.

Increasing Contrast

Now, proceed to the Basic tab and maximize the Blacks slider, setting it to approximately 70. Observe how the image loses much of its original appearance, transforming into areas of deep black contrasted with bright white highlights.

Given this is a high-contrast conversion technique, I typically double the contrast to around +50, though the optimal value depends on the specific image and desired aesthetic.

Restoring Detail

Next, we will recover some of the detail lost by adjusting the Blacks slider. This step requires individual attention for each image. Gradually increase the Fill Light slider until the desired level of detail is achieved.

Avoid excessive adjustment, as you will subsequently reduce the Blacks value from 70 to a more natural setting. Finding the right balance between Fill Light and Blacks is crucial; experiment to determine the most visually appealing result. For my image, I lowered the Blacks to 52 and raised the Fill Light to 56.

Fine-Tuning Colors

Finally, refine the colors. Switch to the HSL/Greyscale tab and uncheck Adobe Camera RAW's Preview box. Note the dominant colors within the image, then re-enable the Preview.

Adjust each color’s appearance using its corresponding slider, deciding whether to emphasize darker or lighter tones. The race car photo featured a light blue sky, a green car, and a reddish bin. To deepen the sky, I reduced the Blue slider to -70. I also reduced the green of the car to -48, and diminished the bin’s prominence by lowering the reds to -40. This process is subjective and relies on personal preference.

Applying a Graduated Filter

I then used the Graduated Filter tool to darken the edges by -1.5 EV. This technique effectively draws the viewer’s eye towards the image’s center and minimizes distracting foreground elements, offering a more subtle effect than a traditional vignette.

Final Adjustments

Once satisfied, return to the Basic tab for final touch-ups. I increased the exposure by +0.6 EV, as the image still appeared slightly dark.

The result is an image with significantly greater impact. Remember that the specific adjustments will vary depending on the photograph. Don't hesitate to experiment and explore different settings. Black and white conversion allows for precise control and the highlighting of key details.

Have you experimented with this technique? Do you employ alternative methods for converting images to black and white? Share your experiences in the comments below!