Instant High Contrast Black and White Photos in Photoshop

Learn how to instantly create high contrast black and white images in Photoshop using Gradient Maps, and the secret to why Gradient Maps give black and white images such a high contrast look.

Photoshop has lots of ways to convert photos to black and white, but Gradient Maps are one of the best because they are so fast and simple to use, and they give us great results. I show you how to add a Gradient Map and why your image instantly turns to black and white. We compare the result to what we get by simply removing the color using Photoshop's Desaturate command. And at the end, we look at a little-known option in the Gradient Editor that's the secret to why black and white images created with Gradient Maps have such high contrast.

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VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Opening the image
0:45 - Removing the color with Desaturate
1:59 - Resetting the Foreground and Background colors
2:26 - Converting to black & white with a Gradient Map
2:49 - Comparing Desaturate to the Gradient Map
3:11 - How Gradient Maps turn photos to B&W
4:05 - Why Gradient Maps create high contrast B&W
6:25 - Summary

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#photoshoptutorial #photoshop #blackandwhitephotography

[PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Hi everyone, Steve here. Thanks for checking out this video where I show you how to instantly turn photos to high contrast black and white in Photoshop using a Gradient Map. There are lots of ways to convert photos to black & white, but Gradient Maps are one of the best because they are so fast and simple to use, and they give us great results. I show you how to add a Gradient Map and why your image instantly turns to black and white. We compare the result with what we get by simply removing the color using Photoshop's Desaturate command. And at the end, we look at a little-known option in the Gradient Editor that's the secret to why Gradient Maps give black & white images such high contrast. Please leave any questions or comments below, and as always, thank you so much for watching!

[markbeed]

I've watched hours of photoshop tutorials and never seen this quick and easy process before. I'll be making use of it in the future, thanks for your excellent content.

[bradmartin]

Thanks for making Black and White so simple and effective!

[bobdots]

Your style of education presentation is without equal in my experience Steve, thank you for your generosity in producing these excellent tutorials.

[amanyasak]

The tutorial is just precise and to the point with lucid explanation without missing a single step which to a novice/beginner a vital one...Thanks for the excellent content and generosity....

[stteo]

just came onto your tutorial - glad I did. Your tutoral is elegentally presented, thorough, comprehensive, logical - easy to understand and to follow. Great work and thank you!👍👍👍

[thewanderess]

Thanks Steve! You explained the both the technique and how/why it works unlike many other tutorials. It's easy to find quick fixes /how-to's on internet, but it's even easier to forget them unless you know how /why something works (don't work). I have no idea how many times I've searched for best ways to convert black and white images on internet but hardly remember all of them. This I'll remember for sure! Thanks once again.

[kandasamyrajan]

Thanks making B&W image so simple and explaining differences between two methods.

[kacemboumehdi]

i really like how you explain Photoshop, thank you !

[lindylou]

Steve, thanks so much for this handy technique. No more Desaturate or Levels trying to get a high black&white contrast. I trialled your method, it worked so well, I recorded the steps as a quick Action. So I'm not going to forget how to do this in future. It is so quick & easy with an excellent result. Tah heaps!

[yousafrafiq]

Nice way to explain, humble and only focus to subject, really appreciated

[sandysox]

You are a am a bit thick....but this was so simple ..a keeper..thank you xxxx❤

[korbybanner]

Excellent well-explained valuable info; Love the recap. Thank you!

[philtaylor]

This is some much simpler than the other tutorials and much easier to control.

[sherryzoltay]

Excellent video. I am experimenting with taking only B&W photos but have not been happy with the end result. I believe the information you shared in this video has solved my dilemma. Thank you.

[MaverickSeventySeven]

Marvellous presentation and explanation! Thank you!

[MistrBaker]

very comprehensive tutorial. You are an excellent tutor.

[rprabaharanprabu]

Amazing tutorial. Thank u sir. Prabu fron India.

[grantosborne]

Wow. How good is that! Quick and easy too. Thanks for another well explained tutorial.

[peterayol]

That was very helpful, thank you so much🙏