Black and White in Photoshop

Turning a color image to Black and White seems quite simple enough. Just duplicate the image and press CTRL+SHIFT+U to desaturate in Photoshop. But this does remove the color, but leaves little contrast.

Here is a way to turn color images to B&W i.e. with full contrast. It is quite simple to do really.

This is a color image turned into high contrast B&W.

This is free stock image which you will find here

It belongs to PinkFishGR

Step 1 : Click the Create new fill or adjustment layer button in the Layers palette.

Step 2 : Click on Gradient Map.

The Gradient Map Adjustment layer forms above the Background Layer.

The image looks like this.

Step 3 : Double click where shown.

Step 4 : The Gradient Map can be seen. Click where shown.

The Gradient Editor opens.

Step 5 : Click the Black Color stop. The Color which had been  grayed out now turn Black. The Location is set to 0.

Step 6 : Type in 25 in the Location. The Black stop moves to 25%.

Step 7 : Click the white Stop at right. The Color changes to white.

Step 8 : Type in 85 in the Location. The White slider moves 85% . Click OK in the Gradient Editor.

The Blacks turn darker and the Whites Whiter.

That is all.

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Cross Process and Sketch

For want of a better name I will call this Cross Process Sketch, since I will be using cross processing and a sketch rolled into one photoshop tutorial, then use Blend Modes for the final effect.

This is the effect I will create.

I will be using this free stock image. You can download it from here

It belongs to SpellboundSeductress

Step 1 : Duplicate the Background Layer by pressing CTRL+J. A new Layer 1 forms.

Step 2 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+U to desaturate Layer 1.

The image is desaturated.

Step 3 : Change the Blend Mode to Color.

Step 4 : Press 3 on the keyboard to reduce the Opacity to 30%.

The image looks like this.

Step 5 : Click the New Fill or Adjustment Layer button at the bottom of the Layers palette and click on Curves.

Step 6 : In the Curves window scroll down to the Red channel.

Step 7 : Place two dots on the diagonal at the top and bottom as shown.

Step 8 : Nudge the bottom point up and the top point down slightly so that the diagonal forms an S.

Step 9 : Do exactly the same thing in thing in the Green channel.

Step 10 : In the Blue channel do the opposite. Pull the bottom point down and the top point up.

Step 11 : Return to the RGB channel and place the cursor in the middle of the diagonal.

Step 12 : Drag the diagonal up as shown.

Step 13 : Lower the Opacity of the Curves Adjustment Layer by pressing 5 on the keyboard.

The image looks like this.

Step 14 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E to form a composite Layer 2.

Step 16 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate Layer 2 to Layer2 copy. Then press CTRL+SHIFT+U to desaturate the layer.

Step 17 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate Layer 2 copy to Layer 2 copy 2. Press CTRL+I to invert.

The image looks like this.

Step 18 : Change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge.

The image turns completely white.

Step 19 : Go to Filter>Blur>Box Blur.

Step 20 : I have set a radius of 400 pixels.

The image looks like this.

Step 21 : Click on Layer 2.

Step 22 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate Layer 2 to Layer 2 copy 3.

Step 23 : Drag the layer to the top.

Step 24 : Change the Blend Mode to Hard Light.

The image looks like this.

Step 25 : Press 7 on the keyboard to lower the Opacity to 70%.

This is how the final image looks.
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Brush Making and Saving

I have shown how you can download brushes from the internet and save them for use in photoshop and how to load them. You will find the tutorial here 

In this tutorial I will show you how you can make your own Brushes and save them for later use. You may want a particular brush and are unable to find it. Then make your own Brush. You can turn any image into a Brush.

This is a Brush I will have  madee from a free stock image. You can make a brush from any image whether in color or in black and white.

I wish to turn this image into a Brush. You will find this image here

It belongs to likera

Step 1 : Open the image in photoshop. There is only the Background layer in the Layers palette.

Step 2 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate the Background Layer into Background copy layer.

Step 3 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+U to desaturate Background copy layer.

Step 4 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate Background copy into Background copy 2 layer.

Step 5 : Press CTRL+I to invert the layer.

After pressing CTRL+I the Background copy 2 layer is inverted. The image looks like this.

Step 6 : Change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge.

Step 7 : The image looks like this. Some black spots remain here and there. This is quite normal. The image can turn fully white also. It will depend on the image.

Step 8 : Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur.

Step 9 : In the Gaussian dialogue box that appears set a Radius of between 3 and 4 and click OK.

This is how the image looks. It can me made into a brush, but I wish to remove the shadow and the dirty white in the background.

Step 10 : Press x to change the Foreground Color to White or click the bent arrow.

Step 11 : Click the Brush Tool or just press b on the keyboard for the Brush Tool Click in the top panel as shown.

Step 12 : Set the Hardness to 0 in the Brush controls. To make the Brush large press ] (right square bracket) and to make it small [ (left square bracket). You are ready to paint.

Step 13 : In the top panel ensure that the default settings of Opacity and Flow are set to 100%.

Step 14 : Before beginning to paint click the New Layer icon. A new Layer 1 forms.

Step 15 : Begin painting with the Brush.

Step 16 : Zoom into the image and paint the entire Background. The background should look absolutely White after painting.

Step 17 : Now the image is ready to be turned into a Brush. You can crop the sides if you wish.
I am not doing so.

Step 18 :Go to Layer>Flatten Image.

There is only the Background Layer left.

Step 19 : Go to Edit>Define Brush preset.

Step 20 : This dialogue box pops up to name your Brush. I have named it high heels. Click OK.
Close the image and open a new Blank document.

Step 21 : Press x to change the Foreground Color to Black.

Step 22 : Open the Brush dialogue box and scroll to the bottom. You will find your Brush at the very end. But this Brush has not been saved for later use.

Step 23 : Scroll up to the first brush and ALT+CLICK it. The cursor will change into a scissor (not shown here). When you click it will delete the Brush. ALT+CLICK all the brushes to delete all of them except the high heels. (Don't worry you will get all of them back).

After deleting all the Brushes, only the high heels brush is left.

Step 24 : Click on the tiny black arrow to open the panel at the right and click on Save Brushes.
Before you do this, it will better if you create a folder somewhere on your computer called high heels brush.

Step 25 : I have made a folder for the high heels Brush. Click to open it.

Step 26 : Name the Brush High heels and click on Save. The Brush will be saved for later use.

Step 27 : Now again click on the Brush and navigate to the Eeset Brushes and click on it.

Step 28 : This dialogue appears. Click OK.

Step 29 : The default Brushes are back.

Step 30 : Before using the new brush I have opened a new White layer as I said earlier. Click on the New layer icon to add a new Layer 1. Always work on a New layer for each brush you use.

Step 31 : Click in the top panel and scroll to Load Brushes.

Step 32 : Navigate to the folder where you saved the Brush and click on it. Brushes are saved as abr files.

Step 33 : Scroll to the bottom of brushes and you will find the high heels brush. But this Brush has been saved and you can reset the brushes with no fear of losing it. Click to load the Brush.

The Brush looks like this. For further instructions on how to use a Brush please the tutorial here
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