Ask a radical of Photoshop drug user for the best method acting to exchange a gloss image to grayscale and you ’re likely to get a argumentation as long - winded as the QuarkXPress vs. Adobe InDesign argument . Heck , many of us ca n’t even agree on whether it ’s grAyscale or grEyscale !

In 2005 , I write about aconversion methodused by fellow blogger , Jim Barthman . Looking back , that method acting seems almost salacious in its complexity compared to what I ’m going to partake with you today .

To set about , I chose a sample image ( register below , on the left ) with decent dividing line to illustrate the method used here more clearly , but the results should be similar on almost any image that you choose to work with .

sample color and grayscale image

The easiest method is to simply select Mode - > Grayscale from Photoshop ’s Image menu . If you do that , you terminate up with something like sampling range 1 shown below .

Now I ’ll chant it down a bit by duplicating the newly created layer and changing the layer method acting from Overlay to Linear Dodge and the amount to 20 % . As you’re able to see in sample image 3 ( above , on the rightfield ) , the ikon now has more tolerable mid - quality , easy shadows , bright highlights and many of the subtle details have returned . But when you liken this to the generic convert to grayscale version described above , you ’ll find a much more interesting image .

Photoshop CS3 conversion options

Photoshop CS3 will offer pixel jockeys a new adjustment method acting under the Image – > Adjustments menu ( shockingly ) call Black & White . This new adjustment method offer plenty of fine - tuning to accomplish beautiful grayscale image via Color , Hue and Saturation sliders . The dictation also lets you relieve your preferences as presets so you could apply them to other images after on . In my tests on the sample distribution epitome , I was able-bodied to achieve so many fantastic variations that brought out different detail in the icon that I just do n’t have enough room to show them all off . This is a little add-on to Photoshop CS3 that is likely lead to get the aid of a circle of digital lensman and designers .

If you already have the Photoshop CS3 Beta , check it out and start converting those images to beautiful black and white now .

There are lots of other ways to exchange people of color to grayscale , including calculator - Darkroom.com’sChannel Mixer method acting , but I get hold the most tractability and informality of economic consumption in the methods I ’ve key out above . But then again , I love a beneficial Quark vs. InDesign debate too !

versions 2 and three

[ James Dempsey head for the hills theCreative Guyblog , which offer baksheesh , tricks and opinion on a variety of design theme . ]

CS3 Black & White command