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Question
I am trying to make photo portraits completely black and white, not grayscale but 100% black or white.
Thanks,
Tim
Hi Tim,
To get an image with only black and white, no gray tones at all, you can try using the Threshold tool. That will take everything above 50% gray and turn it white, and below 50% gray becomes black.
To make this more useful, consider first using the Black and White Adjustment Layer (In CS2 and above) so you can have control over the tones that get converted. You can also use Threshold as a layer adjustment, and get some control that way. Also, if you combine a Levels or Curves adjustment layer with Threshold, you can change the brightness values for a different kind of control.
I hope this helps!
-Scott
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Answers by Expert:
Scott Valentine
Expertise
Author, "Real World Compositing with Photoshop CS4 (Peachpit)". Beginning to expert questions for Photoshop CS5 Extended, including 3D capabilities. I am also an expert here for Digital Photography. Please - NO questions on Lightroom, Elements, Express or versions earlier than CS4. These questions will be discarded.
Experience
Author, "Real World Compositing with Photoshop CS4" (available from Peachpit.com in January, 2009). I have been a professional level user since 1999, and have used Photoshop for photography, fine art, graphic design, web design, and technical image analysis. I have also conducted classes at the college level in both artistic and technical uses. I am currently an Adobe User Group manager.
Organizations
National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Los Alamos Multimedia Users Group.
Publications
CommunityMX.com, Real World Compositing with Photoshop CS4 (Adobe Press).
Education/Credentials
Bachelor's degree, Physics
Awards and Honors
Several awards for digital photography.
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