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How to make a black and white photo that pops

Black and white isn't colour taken away; it's colour turned into light and dark. You decide which colours become which greys.

Intermediate6 min

Mesa Arch, Utah, as shot: the raw file before editing
Mesa Arch, Utah, edited in LightBites

Drag across the photo to compare.Download the raw file and settings

  1. Step 1

    Convert to black and white

    Settings

    Color
    Treatment
    B&W
    The photo in black and white, with the B&W button on
    Step 1: Convert to black and white
    The photo in black and white, with the B&W button on
    Step 1: Convert to black and white

  2. Step 2

    Mix the colours into greys

    Settings

    B&W Mixer
    Blue
    −25
    Aqua
    −10
    Orange
    +10
    Yellow
    +5
    The B&W Mixer with blue darkened and orange brightened
    Step 2: Mix the colours into greys
    The B&W Mixer with blue darkened and orange brightened
    Step 2: Mix the colours into greys

  3. Step 3

    Build contrast

    Settings

    Light
    Contrast
    +25
    Highlights
    −20
    Shadows
    +15
    Whites
    +20
    Blacks
    −22
    Contrast, Whites and Blacks set for a deep black and white
    Step 3: Build contrast
    Contrast, Whites and Blacks set for a deep black and white
    Step 3: Build contrast

  4. Step 4

    Bring out the texture

    Settings

    Effects
    Texture
    +20
    Clarity
    +18
    Texture and Clarity raised in the Effects group
    Step 4: Bring out the texture
    Texture and Clarity raised in the Effects group
    Step 4: Bring out the texture

  5. Step 5

    Finish with grain

    Settings

    Effects
    Grain
    +20
    Grain Size
    +25
    Vignette
    −10
    Grain and a light vignette in the Effects group
    Step 5: Finish with grain
    Grain and a light vignette in the Effects group
    Step 5: Finish with grain

The whole edit

Every setting from the steps above, in order. On another photo, treat them as a starting point: a different light needs different numbers.

Color
Treatment
B&W
B&W Mixer
Blue
−25
Aqua
−10
Orange
+10
Yellow
+5
Light
Contrast
+25
Highlights
−20
Shadows
+15
Whites
+20
Blacks
−22
Effects
Texture
+20
Clarity
+18
Grain
+20
Grain Size
+25
Vignette
−10

Follow along with the same photo

Download the raw file and edit it yourself with the steps above, then compare with the finished edit.

  • Raw photo

    Canon EOS 60D · CR2

  • Preset

    “Deep Black & White”, the edit for any photo (without the crop and masks)

  • Finished edit

    XMP sidecar: every setting, the crop and the masks

Edit it from the start

Compare with the finished edit

Photo: Mesa Arch, Utah by LaurentFromSF (discuss.pixls.us) · CC BY-SA 4.0

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