How to Transform a Color Photo into a Black and White Photo

Black and white photographs have a certain elegance to them that can make them more desirable than color photos, but most photographs start out in color. Digital photographs can easily be transformed from color to black and white in minutes with just a few mouse clicks. The simplest way for beginners to achieve this effect is to convert the photo to "Grayscale," a common option in photo editing programs. Follow these steps to learn more.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Photograph you wish to transform
• Computer
• Photo editing software

1. Open a photo editing program on your computer such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Corel Photo-Paint, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, or Microsoft Digital Image Suite.

2. Open the photograph you wish to convert to black and white.

3. Use your mouse to click "Image," then "Convert to," then "Grayscale (8-bit)" if you're using Corel Photo-Paint.

4. Look for "Image" and click it with your mouse cursor, then "Mode," then "Grayscale" if you're using Adobe Photoshop.

5. Select "Colors," then "Gray Scale" if you're using "Jasc Paint Shop Pro."

6. Click on "Common Tasks," then "Effects," then "Black and White" in Microsoft Digital Image Suite.

7. Save the final result.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're staring out with a 35mm photograph, you can still follow these easy instructions simply by scanning your photograph before beginning. If you don't have a scanner at home, you can use one at a document services store such as Fed-Ex Kinko's.

• If you want to print your image using an inkjet printer, it's good to convert it back to RGB first. It will remain in shades of grey, but you'll get better print quality.

• Save the black and white version of your image as a new file if you wish to retain the color copy also.