Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

Converting black to white in elements 5 is very limited and offers fewer options, but it will help you create a wide range of mono effects.

Photoshop elements offers fewer options for converting colour images and pictures to black and white than the full version of the software, but it’s like anything else in life you only get what you pay for. Also you will find that it doesn’t include the more advanced tools such as the calculations dialog or the channel mixer.

But you will find that elements 5 does include the tools which will help you enable and create the custom mono conversions based on channel information.

You will need to go to Enhance > Convert black and white, and then by starting one of the preset styles. This can be customized, also by clicking on the preview thumbnails you can add or subtract the colour channels which include green, blue and red.

You need to know how to choose your conversion style.

Landscapes – If you have blue skies and they are nearly all black you can choose the vivid landscapes style. This is very similar in it’s effects to a red liens filter. For less dramatic images you can use the landscape style, you will find using this it creates a yellow lens filter.

Portraits Style – This will help you with the skin tones and make the facial features stand out more.

Preset Style – When you have selected this from the list, elements will apply a default conversion, this can be fine tuned by clicking on the thumbnails and dragging the adjustment intensity slider.

Infrared Effect – You can infra red black and white film, if you are trying this then use the infrared effect, it will mimic soft, hazy highlights by using the diffuse glow filter.