Step 2 - Optimising the mix of colour channel information for black and white

• Simply move the red channel to a value less than 100%
• Adjust the green and/or blue channels to get the desired effect
• The following example has the effect of brightening the overall image and also separates the sky and mailbox

Channel Mixer set for balance of red, green and blue

Black and White - Mailbox

 

As we can see the process involved is really VERY easy and the effects are only limited by our imagination. Once we get the desired overall effect it's possible to fine-tune the image further using image adjustment "Curves". However, it doesn't finish there, the number of options we can take to finish our image is really quite staggering.

 

Step 3 - Adjustments for full colour toning a black and white image

Whilst our image is now giving the appearance of a black and white picture it's still in RGB colour mode. We can now add colour in a number of different ways. The description that follows is for a Sepia tone effect, but we can adjust for blue, pink, etc.

• From Photoshop menu bar select "Layer > New Adjustment layer > Color Balance".
• When the "Color Balance" dialog appears we make sure the "Tone Balanceî is set for ìMidtones".
• Next we adjust each of the colour channel "sliders" until the desired colour effect is obtained. Remember that since we are using adjustment layers the changes can be modified and fine-tuned at any time.
• Now we repeat the "Color Balance" adjustments with the "Tone Balance" set for  "Shadows". The actual balance of colours should normally be roughly the same as used for the "Midtones" adjustment.
• Once we're happy with the balance we can flatten the image using "Layer > Flatten Image".

 

Color Balance dialog - midtones settings for Sepia Tone effect

 

Mailbox - Sepia Toned shadows and midtones in Photoshop