From Color to Black & White In Seconds Using Photoshop Actions
From Color to Black & White In Seconds Using Photoshop Actions
As many of you know, for the past 5 years I have offered Photoshop Training Classes online. I have both one-on-one and group style workshops. Occasionally I get asked to do in person mentoring and teaching for local hobbyist and professional photographers in Metro Detroit.
Tammy Miller, a mom who loves photography, just purchased Photoshop and had no idea where to start. She has been coming to my home office to learn Photoshop. In upcoming weeks, I will share a few images we have edited of her beautiful daughter.
As soon as I saw this image, I knew I wanted to convert it to black and white to emphasize her serious facial expression. This edit took less than a minute using the MCP Fusion Photoshop action set.
I ran B&W Fusion Mix and Match, which runs all the black and white actions and allows you to turn them on and vary opacity for a fully customized look. I ended up just using Peaceful on this one at an opacity of 67%. The One Click B&W folder was set to 100%. I needed to fix the exposure so I opened the One Click folder and increased the Fix Underexposure folder layer to 56%. I masked the background back with a low opacity brush. Lastly I used the Sunflare {right} Photoshop action which mimics lens flare. I decided to use Lens Flare 1 from inside and to mask the circle off in the lower left corner. Then I set the opacity to 72%. That was my quick edit from the before to the after image shown below.
If you are interested in seeing how I edit your images using MCP products, consider taking our Watch Me Work group class or a one-on-one Photoshop training class.
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Jodi, what BW conversion technique do you use for the Quickie Collection v. the Fusion Collection? Do you have a favorite? I’m debating which collection to buy. I have not been happy with the various BW actions that I’ve been trying (or my own BW conversions)…and am wondering if it’s the underlying technique that’s sub-optimal….so would love to be pointed to what and why.
Thanks!
Julia
Julia,
I use so many techniques, depends on the specific action. Duotones, gradients, channel mixers, etc. My least fav is grayscale and also the PS B&W adjustment (for some reason I just never fell in love with it)…
Testing image upload!