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ATRL: ATRL: Class & Culture
Member Since: 5/25/2010
Posts: 22,653
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BLACK and WHITE
Jack. was wanting to know how to make all gif layers black and white at once, so I decided to type out this quick and easy tutorial for him. Maybe it may be useful to some of you, too.
- After you've finished creating or opening your colored gif in Photoshop (CS3 or higher), select the top layer and then add a brand new layer on top of that.
- Then, select the brand new layer.
- Then click on the circle that's half black/half white located at the bottom of the layers window, to create an Adjustment Layer.
- Then select the Adjustment Layer you want to create -- in this case you want to make a gif black and white, meaning you want to desaturate the colors. So, you would select "Hue/Saturation" from the menu list. (Note: After Hue/Saturation is selected, the Hue/Saturation window appears and a new adjustment layer is created above the new empty layer you created earlier.)
- Notice you will have three options: Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. Drag the saturation marker (shaped like a small pentagon) all the way to the far left (or type in -100 in the white "Saturation Box") and watch all of your layers become desaturated (black and white)! Click “OK” when you’re finished and that’s it!
Bonus: While the “Hue/Saturation” window is open, if you check the "Colorize" box in the bottom right hand corner, you can colorize your entire gif as well (change the colors by moving the hue marker). So play around and have fun with it.
A couple of other notes: When creating a black and white photo or gif, I personally focus on two things: Levels and Selective Color. For instance, notice how turning a colored photo into black and white, most of the time, turns out to be dull and does not give you that sharp, elegant black and white look of a photo that was naturally photographed in black and white. That’s where Levels and Selective Color come in. So if you’re not satisfied with the result, after you’ve turned your gif or photo into black and white, then follow these steps:
So, we’ve successfully turned our gif or photo into black and white through desaturation with the “Hue and Saturation” adjustment layer. Now we want to create another adjustment layer for Levels.
- Repeat the same process by clicking on the half black/half white circle, but this time, selecting Levels. (Note: After Levels is selected, the Levels window appears and a new adjustment layer for Levels is created above the adjustment layer for Hue and Saturation, which is above the empty layer, which is above the rest of your gif layers or photo layers.)
- Now, while in the Level window, we’re focusing solely on the three triangle markers: one black on the far left, one grey in the middle, and one opaque (representing white) at the far right. The black triangle marker will affect the blacks and dark tones of the gif/photo, when moved. The grey triangle marker will affect the grays and neutral tones of the gif/photo, when moved. And the opaque triangle marker will affect the whites and light tones of the gif/photo, when moved.
- Now, go ahead and move those three markers around and watch how much of a difference it makes with your black and white photo. Once you’ve got your gif or photo just right. Click OK. You're done!
Note: You can use levels on both black and white photos and colored photos. Give it a try!
For me, personally, I like my blacks to be deep black, and to ensure that, I use Selective Color:
- So, repeat the same process by clicking on the half black/half white circle and select “Selective Color.” Since our photo is black and white, we solely want to focus on the colors of Blacks, Whites, and Neutrals from the drop down color menu.
- Reds is automatically selected when opening the Selective Color window, so click the drop down menu (the small black triangle to the right of Reds) and select Blacks. You’ll see four options: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. Since our photo is black and white, we’re focusing solely on the Black option, (for instance, try moving the magenta or yellow markers around and see what happens).
- Move the pentagon-shaped marker on the Black option to the right to make the blacks in your gif or photo deeper, and move the pentagon-shaped marker to the left to make the blacks in your gif or photo lighter. Once you’ve got it just right, move onto selecting Neutrals from the drop down menu. Again, focus on just the Black option in Neutrals. Move the pentagon-shaped marker back and forth. Once you’ve got it just right, move onto selecting Whites from the drop down menu and, again, focus on just the Black option in Whites. For one last time, move the pentagon-shaped marker back and forth. Once you’re done with all three and satisfied with your gif or photo, click OK! You’re done!
Note: Sometimes you may just use Levels and skip Selective Color. Sometimes you may just use Selective Color and skip Levels. And sometimes you may just use both.
I know it may look like a "wall of text," but there's only 12 steps total and
it's really quick and simple to follow. I hope this helps some of you out.
...Vin
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Member Since: 5/11/2010
Posts: 18,447
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All those steps...
There's a button for B&W.
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Member Since: 5/25/2010
Posts: 22,653
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Quote:
Originally posted by Devil
All those steps...
There's a button for B&W.
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That was how I learned. I know of no other way. Will that button turn all the layers to black and white? 
...Vin
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Member Since: 5/11/2010
Posts: 18,447
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Quote:
Originally posted by Vin
That was how I learned. I know of no other way. Will that button turn all the layers to black and white?
...Vin |
Yes. Just select your last layer, then hit that button. 
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Member Since: 12/25/2011
Posts: 9,073
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I can do all that in 4 seconds.
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Working with frames is a mess. No one has time for all those layers, especially with a larger gif.
You should always use the Timeline and convert your frames into one single layer.
Then add your adjustment layers, starting with Black & White.
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Member Since: 5/11/2010
Posts: 18,447
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Stop, Chris. Just stop. 
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Quote:
Originally posted by Devil
Stop, Chris. Just stop. |
You stop.
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Member Since: 12/25/2011
Posts: 9,073
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my fights with b3dro > doc and devil's fights.
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Member Since: 5/11/2010
Posts: 18,447
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fdjkds @ file does not exist. 
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Quote:
Originally posted by Devil
fdjkds @ file does not exist. |
I don't know what you're talking about.
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Member Since: 5/11/2010
Posts: 18,447
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Quote:
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Last edited Today at 7:26 PM.
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Quote:
Originally posted by Devil
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@ you thinking you were slick by deleting that mess of an avatar you made from your minus account.
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Member Since: 5/25/2010
Posts: 22,653
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Quote:
Originally posted by Devil
Yes. Just select your last layer, then hit that button. |
Quote:
Originally posted by SupremeGoddess
I can do all that in 4 seconds.
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SRSLY?
That what I GET for watching a youtube tutorial from a 14-year-old kid from Indonesia about
Photoshop. To think I have been doing it that way for about a year and a half now. What a MESS.
...Vin
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Member Since: 5/11/2010
Posts: 18,447
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@ you saving that mess of an avatar and re-uploading it.
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Member Since: 4/1/2011
Posts: 6,380
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Quote:
Originally posted by Vin
That was how I learned. I know of no other way. Will that button turn all the layers to black and white?
...Vin |
Using a B&W PSD is also a quick and easy option.
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Member Since: 5/25/2010
Posts: 22,653
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Quote:
Originally posted by Doc
Working with frames is a mess. No one has time for all those layers, especially with a larger gif.
You should always use the Timeline and convert your frames into one single layer.
Then add your adjustment layers, starting with Black & White.
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I don't even know what you mean by Timeline.
And if you convert all your frames to a single layer, doesn't that stop the
"animation" part of the gif since it's just a photo if it's a single layer?
Apparently, I've been doing it the hard way for so long.
...Vin
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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you can RUN but you can't HIDE. That's YOUR mess, you better CLAIM it.
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Member Since: 5/11/2010
Posts: 18,447
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Quote:
Originally posted by Vin
I don't even know what you mean by Timeline.
And if you convert all your frames to a single layer, doesn't that stop the
"animation" part of the gif since it's just a photo if it's a single layer?
Apparently, I've been doing it the hard way for so long.
...Vin |
Don't listen to Chris, he'll only confuse you.
Quote:
Originally posted by Doc
you can RUN but you can't HIDE. That's YOUR mess, you better CLAIM it.
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I don't have to claim anything. It's not on my account anymore.
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Member Since: 5/25/2010
Posts: 22,653
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Quote:
Originally posted by Devil
Don't listen to Chris, he'll only confuse you.
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I need to listen to one of you because I'm not here for doing something the long way when
it only takes a couple seconds. I need to be updated in my technique, as soon as possible.
...Vin
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