How to Create a Sepia Effect with Photoshop

PhotoShop provides hundreds of ways to enhance photos, including the popular trend of sepia tones, where, similar to a black and white photograph, a photo is reduced to brown tones. The technique can give an aged look to a piece or can give contemporary images a modern edge. Learn how to create this beautiful yet simple effect to your photos and design projects by using this popular graphic design software.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Open your image in PhotoShop CS.

2. Choose Image> Adjustments> Desaturate. This removes colors from your photo without actually making it a full grayscale image.

3. Apply PhotoShop's pre-packaged sepia photo filter. Select Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Photo Filter.

4. Enter the following settings in the New Layer dialogue box: Color: None,
   Mode: Normal, Opacity: 100%. Choose OK.

5. Enter the following settings in the Photo Filter dialogue box. Filter: Sepia; Density: 50% (or experiment; Preserve Luminosity: Selected. Choose OK and you're done.

Tips & Warnings

• When making any color photo into a black-and-white or sepia tone, play with the image's contrast and levels to make the effect more subtle, or more striking.
• If you prefer a different shade of brown when creating your sepia tone, adjust the color balance settings to arrive at the ideal shade.