How to Make a Grayscale Image with Lab Mode Using Photoshop

This Photoshop Tutorial will guide you through the process of using Lab Mode in Photoshop to create a richer, more beautiful grayscale/black and white image.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer running Photoshop. Photoshop CS2 was used in this Photoshop tutorial

1. 
   Convert the color image to a lab color image

   Open a color image/digital photo in Photoshop. From the Image menu, choose Mode and then Lab Color.

2. 
   Open the Channels Palette in Photoshop

   Open the Channels palette by selecting Channels from the Windows menu.

3. 
   Delete the b channel

   Delete the b channel by dragging the b channel to the trash can at the bottom of the Channels palette.

4. 
   Delete channel 2

   In the Channels palette,, there are only 2 channels left now. Drag the second channel into the trash can in the Channels palette.

5. 
   Convert the image to grayscale

   Now convert the image to a grayscale image by selecting Mode and then Grayscale from the Image menu.

6. 
   Duplicate the image background layer

   In the Layers palette, copy the background layer by pressing the Ctrl and J keys at the same time.

7. 
   Change the duplicated layer blending mode to Multiply

   With the duplicated layer selected in the Layers palette, change the blending mode to Multiply.

8. 
   Grayscale image comparison

   This image illustrates the difference between a grayscale image done by choosing Image/Mode/Grayscale, and a grayscale image done using Lab Color. You can see that the lab color grayscale image is much richer with better contrast.

9. 
   Lab Color grayscale image done with Photoshop

   The lab color grayscale image - beautiful!