Instant High Contrast Black and White Photos in Photoshop

Learn how to instantly create high contrast black and white images in Photoshop using Gradient Maps, and the secret to why Gradient Maps give black and white images such a high contrast look.
Photoshop has lots of ways to convert photos to black and white, but Gradient Maps are one of the best because they are so fast and simple to use, and they give us great results. I show you how to add a Gradient Map and why your image instantly turns to black and white. We compare the result to what we get by simply removing the color using Photoshop's Desaturate command. And at the end, we look at a little-known option in the Gradient Editor that's the secret to why black and white images created with Gradient Maps have such high contrast.
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Related Videos:
How to COLOR GRADE Images with Gradient Maps: • Color Grading Images i...
Photoshop's HIDDEN Color Grading Presets: • Using the Hidden Color...
VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Opening the image
0:45 - Removing the color with Desaturate
1:59 - Resetting the Foreground and Background colors
2:26 - Converting to black & white with a Gradient Map
2:49 - Comparing Desaturate to the Gradient Map
3:11 - How Gradient Maps turn photos to B&W
4:05 - Why Gradient Maps create high contrast B&W
6:25 - Summary
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#photoshoptutorial #photoshop #blackandwhitephotography

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

*How to COLOR GRADE Images in Photoshop with Gradient Maps:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3qtpaJvpJ2arJY *Photoshop's HIDDEN Color Grading Presets:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmWYZqtqbrZjjKc Hi everyone, Steve here. Thanks for checking out this video where I show you how to instantly turn photos to high contrast black and white in Photoshop using a Gradient Map. There are lots of ways to convert photos to black & white, but Gradient Maps are one of the best because they are so fast and simple to use, and they give us great results. I show you how to add a Gradient Map and why your image instantly turns to black and white. We compare the result with what we get by simply removing the color using Photoshop's Desaturate command. And at the end, we look at a little-known option in the Gradient Editor that's the secret to why Gradient Maps give black & white images such high contrast. Please leave any questions or comments below, and as always, thank you so much for watching!

[@malikimran1325]

Hi sir your video is very good I get to learn a lot from your video I request you make a video about your textile designing I want to learn textile designing your learning style is very good to thank you

[@markbeed59]

I've watched hours of photoshop tutorials and never seen this quick and easy process before. I'll be making use of it in the future, thanks for your excellent content.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Great to hear it! Thank you for watching!

[@bradmartin7598]

Thanks for making Black and White so simple and effective!

[@bobdots5974]

Your style of education presentation is without equal in my experience Steve, thank you for your generosity in producing these excellent tutorials.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thank you so much! And thanks for watching!

[@amanyasak2285]

The tutorial is just precise and to the point with lucid explanation without missing a single step which to a novice/beginner a vital one...Thanks for the excellent content and generosity....

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

You are very welcome. Thanks for your comments!

[@thewanderess]

Thanks Steve! You explained the both the technique and how/why it works unlike many other tutorials. It's easy to find quick fixes /how-to's on internet,but it's even easier to forget them unless you know how /why something works (don't work). I have no idea how many times I've searched for best ways to convert black and white images on internet but hardly remember all of them. This I'll remember for sure! Thanks once again.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

I agree that the "why" is just as important as the "how" when it comes to learning. It's too easy to forget steps when you don't know their purpose. Thanks for your feedback!

[@stteo8506]

just came onto your tutorial - glad I did. Your tutoral is elegentally presented, thorough, comprehensive, logical - easy to understand and to follow. Great work and thank you!👍👍👍

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks for your comments! Great to hear it was so helpful.

[@kacemboumehdi2768]

i really like how you explain Photoshop , thank you !

[@kandasamyrajan]

Thanks making B&W image so simple and explaining differences between two methods.

[@windydyahpramesti6705]

It Helped me so much, Thanks!

[@sandysox]

You are a star.....i am a bit thick....but this was so simple ..a keeper..thank you xxxx❤

[@MaverickSeventySeven]

Marvellous presentation and explanation! Thank you!

[@korbybanner1]

Excellent well-explained valuable info; Love the recap. Thank you!

[@lindylou8039]

Steve, thanks so much for this handy technique. No more Desaturate or Levels trying to get a high black&white contrast. I trialled your method, it worked so well, I recorded the steps as a quick Action. So I'm not going to forget how to do this in future. It is so quick & easy with an excellent result. Tah heaps!

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Great to hear it! Gradient Maps are awesome and I use them all the time. Thanks for your comments!

[@rprabaharanprabu4475]

Amazing tutorial. Thank u sir. Prabu fron India.

[@TheKathleendavis]

Unbelievably easy! You rock!

[@remig.claremont4583]

very helpful bro =)

[@philtaylor3098]

This is some much simpler than the other tutorials and much easier to control.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Great to hear it. Thank you for watching!

[@Mist3rBaker]

very comprehensive tutorial. You are an excellent tutor.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@yousafrafiq1600]

Nice way to explain, humble and only focus to subject, really appreciated

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Great to hear it was helpful. Thank you for your comments and for watching!

[@sherryzoltay7625]

Excellent video. I am experimenting with taking only B&W photos but have not been happy with the end result. I believe the information you shared in this video has solved my dilemma. Thank you.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Hi Sherry, that's great to hear! Just make sure to take the photos in color and convert to black and white later. You won't get the same results if you shoot in black and white.

[@peterayol7712]

That was very helpful, thank you so much🙏

[@glamorousMSTF]

You have a peacefull voice Steve.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks :)

[@grantosborne3062]

Wow. How good is that! Quick and easy too. Thanks for another well explained tutorial.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@cameraplus7233]

Thank you. This has been very helpful & a quick way to do the change. What I do notice, when I perform this process, my foreground & background setting changes. ie. I make sure that i have set them to the default, so it shows the black foreground on top & white background below. Once I click the new adjustment layer & choose the gradient map, the foreground & background options swap position down the left hand side, but this does not occur when I watch you doing it. I also notice that when you click to open the gradient editor, you have an extra set of anchor points along the top, which are not visible on my editor. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[@herobear]

Enjoyed the video. 👏 Thanks for Share :)

[@ThoughtFission]

Maybe the most usedul photoshop tutorial I've seen.

[@rogerhyland8283]

So simply explained

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Glad it was helpful. Thank you for watching!

[@JHJohnson]

Great info. Thank you

[@Photographer1Arav]

Thanks ❤🎉

[@sfrancfrancnrm8640]

Timely reminder for me tks.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@snehalatashinde1508]

Nice

[@Rkeptic]

the best

[@miroslavschwanzer4326]

Thank you for your tutorials, there are very helpful and clearly explained. I am interesting, how was processed original colored photo in this tut. Was there used Gradient Map technique related to skin tones as well? Thanks :)

[@saper32]

Can you tell me how you got the original photo of the guy to look like that??

[@memomimara9907]

instant sub after watching the video for about 5 sec

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks! I hope it was helpful.

[@memomimara9907]

@@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel absolutely! Amazing content

[@elijahluu7605]

Can someone explain why sometimes when I try to do the first version of making an image black and white, I can't select the desaturate button on my image? It's really annoying.

[@JuanettesCraftingCorner]

You do such great videos. Thanks

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

I hope it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@thuanabdul5328]

Need a video about changing the color in t shirt please

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@LatinoWebStudio]

thanks for the video!

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

I hope it was helpful. Thank you for watching!

[@malikimran1325]

Hi sir your video is very good i get to learn a lot from your video i request you make a video about your textile designing i want to learn textile designing your learning style is very good thank you

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@gustavomaluly4693]

Amazing.... it´s all I´m going to say!!!

[@tammywilliams8569]

is there a free version for this?

[@leticiakonaduagyemang]

Love it

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

I hope it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@ronigraphicart]

awesome!

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks! I hope it was helpful.

[@pangajampangajam8750]

Super

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks! I hope it was helpful.