Converting images from color to black and white can be done in a variety of ways in photoshop. The easiest way is just to convert your image to grayscale, but this usually leaves you with a rather flat and dull looking image. There are various ways to get more dramatic looking black and white photos in photoshop. In this article we are going to look at converting an image from color to black and white by using a channel mixer layer in photoshop. The great thing about converting to black and white using the channel mixer is that you can achieve dramatic results by playing around with the channel mixer settings.

Step 1 :
Open up your image, and create a new channel mixer layer layer by clicking on the 'create new fill or adjustment layer icon' and then selecting Channel Mixer. It is situated at the bottom of the layers palette and is the circle that is filled half with black and half with white. Alternatively you can create a new channel mixer layer by choosing Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Channel Mixer.

Step 2 :
Once you've created a new channel mixer layer, you will be presented with the channel mixer settings. Check the monochrome setting to make your photo black and white, and then play arount with the various settings until you are satisfied with the result. Various settings will work on various photos, so play around and see what works for you.

On this particular photo I used the following settings :

Red : 100%
Green : 44%
Blue : -4%
Constant : -24%
Monochrome checked

When you're done, flatten all your layers and save your new image.

Converting to grayscale would have produced a very flat looking image like this :

This is the final image after using the channel mixer :

I took the above picture in Ukunda, Kenya in June 2006. It was taken on a Canon EOS 20D with the standard kit lens.

Here's some more black and white pictures for some inspiration.