How to Enhance the White in Black & White Photos

You can adjust black and white photos with graphics software

You can use graphic editing software to fix scanned black and white photos on your computer. If your image is too dark, or if you want to enhance the white areas to make them brighter, you can edit the brightness setting of the picture. You will need a program such as Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro or GIMP installed on your computer to make these changes to your photo.

Instructions

Photoshop

1. Click "File" and select "Open" from the menu. Browse for your black and white photo, then double-click to open it.

2. Click the "Image" menu, then select "Adjustment."

3. Click "Brightness/Contrast" to open the tool.

4. Slide the "Brightness" setting to the right to brighten up your black and white photo.

5. Slide the "Contrast" setting to the left to balance the dark areas with the light. This allows you to keep darker areas dark while enhancing the white areas on your photo. You may need to experiment with the settings until you get the image the way you want.

6. Click "File" and choose "Save" to save the edited black and white photo on your computer.

Paint Shop Pro

1. Click "File" and select "Open" from the menu. Browse for your black and white photo, then double-click to open it.

2. Click the "Adjust" menu, then select "Brightness and Contrast."

3. Click "Brightness/Contrast" to open the tool. You will see text boxes where you can type a numerical value to increase or decrease the brightness and contrast. Zero is the default and indicates no change to the setting.

4. Type a positive number in the "Brightness" text box to increase the image brightness.

5. Type a negative number in the "Contrast" text box to make darker areas dark while enhancing the white areas on your photo. You may need to experiment with the values until you get the image the way you want.

6. Click "File" and choose "Save" to save the edited black and white photo on your computer.

GIMP

1. Click "File" and select "Open" from the menu. Browse for your black and white photo, then double-click to open it.

2. Click the "Tools" menu, then select "Color Tools."

3. Click "Brightness-Contrast" to open the tool.

4. Slide the "Brightness" setting to the right to brighten up your black and white photo.

5. Slide the "Contrast" setting to the left to balance the dark areas with the light. This allows you to keep darker areas dark while enhancing the white areas on your photo. You may need to experiment with the settings until you get the image the way you want.

6. Click "File" and choose "Save" to save the edited black and white photo on your computer.

References

• Photoshop 7 Basic User Manual
• Paint Shop Pro User Guide
• GIMP User Manual: Brightness-Contrast

Resources

• GIMP: The GNU Image Manipulation Program