Dramatic Black and White Effect
Create a Dramatic Black and White Effect
Mostly black and white with a hint of color revealed is one of the most popular effects. It gives your images a dramatic tone. And, it’s incredibly easy to accomplish.
Layers, Layer Mask, and the Brush Tool are used in this tutorial.
Step 1
Open the image to which you would like to add the black and white effect.
Step 2
Duplicate the Background Layer by choosing Edit > Duplicate. In the Layers palette, double-click the layer name to rename it “Black and White.”
Step 3
Apply the black and white effect. With the Black and White layer selected, choose Image > Desaturate.
Step 4
Add a Layer Mask by choosing Layer > Add Layer Mask from the main Menu.
Step 5
It’s time for the fun part—revealing some color!
Select a brush color and preset:
- Click the color box in the Tool Options bar. The Colors palette appears.
- In the Colors palette, pick the color black.
- Click the Show Brushes button in the Tool Options bar to bring up the Brushes palette.
- Double-click the Brush preset to make the Brush Settings visible.
- In the Brush Settings, drag the slider for Diameter roughly to 8 points and the Hardness slider to around 65%.
Viewing the image at the pixel level will help you to maintain precision as you paint. Choose View > Zoom In to zoom in until you see the relevant details. Then, start painting with the Brush Tool and see how the color image reveals itself.
Tip: Hold down the Spacebar key to temporarily switch to the Hand Tool, so you can click and drag the image to another area.
Paint to reveal the entire object, and you are done!
I am following the instructions on the tutorial for chameleon effect but each time I attempt to reveal color it comes out as black.?
Make sure you click on the mask before you paint in black. The mask (on the right) should have a blue frame around it when selected.
So, the black dress which is really red underneath, is revealed red again by painting it black. OK, roger that.
@George, for masks what is colored black is hidden while white color is shown. In this case it is the black and white effect which is “hidden” (or simply stated “not used”) with black, thus “hiding” the black and white effect and allowing the red dress to show.
After desaturating the image, this example then requires 3 steps: 1) Add Layer Mask, 2) Choose the cold black, and then 3) Use the Brush. Why not simply use the Eraser on the desaturated image?
Angus,
The Mask helps you erase the parts non-destructively. If you’ve erased the part which you did not want, you can use the white color Brush Tool to hide it again.
Hi, I followed perfectly until step 4, but whatever I do then, the brush only makes parts black, not colorful. I have three layers on top of each other, not the two next to each other as shown. What’s the difference and what could be the cause? Thanks
Hi Michael,
You should add Layer Mask as explained in Step 4 and click on it to select. Selected layer mask has a blue highlight around its thumbnail. Then start painting.