Convert Photo Into Black and White on Windows: Easy Process

With a simple trick, you can convert any photo or picture on your computer into black and white. Though the color photos are vibrant and eye-catching, a black and white photo can convey a timeless classic feel.

There are a number of reasons why you might want to convert photos into black and white. For example, maybe you want to create a vintage look to a photo, enhance the mood and emotion, correct the exposure and other issues, emphasize the texture and contrast, or make the photo look cool and esthetically pleasing.

No matter the reason, if you want to make a color picture look like a black-and-white photo, you can do that pretty easily. In this guide, I will show how to do it using the built-in Photos app and the popular image editing software Photoshop. You can follow either of the methods to convert color photos into black and white.

Table of contents:

1. How to convert a photo into black and white
2. Convert a photo into black and white using Photoshop
3. Conclusion

How to convert a photo into black and white

The built-in Photos app has a few basic image editing tools. For example, you can use the photos app to crop images. In the same manner, you can use the built-in Photos app to convert a photo into black and white. Let me show you how to do it.

1. Open the photo or picture with the Photos app.
2. Click the “Edit” icon at the top.
3. Go to the “Filter” tab.
4. Select the “B&W” option.
5. Click the “Save as Copy” button.
6. Select a location and name the file
7. Click the “Save” button.
8. With that, the photo is turned black and white.

Steps with more details:

First, open the photo you want to edit with the Photos app. For that, you can either double-click on the photo or right-click on it and select “Open with” and then “Photos.”

Once the picture opens in the Photos app, click the “Edit” option on the top bar. Take a look at the image below for reference to where to find the edit option.

The above action opens the image in editing mode. Here, click the “Filter” option at the top.

This screen in the Photos app shows all the available filters in the Photos app. Since we want to make the photo black and white, click on the “B&W” or “B&W Cool” option.

The photos app also has two more black-and-white options: “B&W Warm” and “B&W High Contrast.” Select each option and see what fits better. For instance, I selected “B&W Cool” because it best suits the picture I’m trying to convert.

Once done, click the “Save as Copy” button at the top.

Next, select a location of your choice, name the file whatever you want, and click the “Save” button.

As soon as you do that, the Photos app saves the black-and-white photo and immediately opens it.

Link to reference cat image: https://pixabay.com/photos/tree-cat-silhouette-sunset-dawn-3063715/

Convert a photo into black and white using Photoshop

If you have access to Photoshop, you can use it to convert any picture to black and white. The advantage of using Photoshop over the Photos app is that it gives you more control and options to make the photo look how you want. Though useful, this makes it a bit confusing and hard to follow unless you have some experience with Photoshop.

That being said, if you know Photoshop or want to try it out, here are a few basic steps to make any color photo into black and white in Photoshop.

1. Open the Photoshop application.
2. Open the photo or picture in Photoshop.
3. Click on the “Image” option at the top.
4. Select the “Adjustments -> Desaturate” option.
5. Photoshop turns the photo to black and white.
6. Select the “File -> Save as” option.
7. Select a location and name for the file.
8. Press the “Save” button.
9. Close the Photoshop application.
10. With that, you converted a photo to black and white in Photoshop.

Steps with more details:

First, open the Photoshop application on your computer. You can search for it in the Start menu or click on the Photoshop icon on the taskbar if it is pinned.

After opening Photoshop, click “File -> Open,” select the image you want to edit, and click the “Open” button. This action will open the image in Photoshop. You can also drag and drop the image from File Explorer to Photoshop.

Once the photo opens in Photoshop, click on the “Image” option at the top and select the “Adjustments -> Desaturate” option. You can also press the “Ctrl + Shift + U” keyboard shortcut to activate the same option.

As soon as you do that, Photoshop turns the color photo to black and white.

At this point, you can leave it. However, you can use the Levels to adjust the black and white levels to enhance the photo further. To open the Levels tool, select “Image -> Adjustments -> Levels.”

Once you are satisfied, click the “File -> Save as” option or press the “Ctrl key + Shift key + S” keyboard shortcut.

Next, select a location to save the file, give it a name and click the “Save” button.

Finally, close the Photoshop application. If prompted about unsaved changes, accept the prompt. i.e., don’t save the changes.

With that, a new black and white photo is saved to the disk, and the original is untouched.

Color Picture to Black and White — Conclusion

Whether you use the built-in Photos app or Photoshop, converting a photo or picture into black and white is pretty easy. While the Photos app is a good option for beginners or anyone who wants to quickly edit their photos without a lot of fuss, the Photoshop method offers a wider range of tools and options for advanced editing, including more precise control over brightness, contrast, and other settings.

Ultimately, the choice of method will depend on your specific needs and preferences. The Photos app is a great option if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to convert your photos to black and white. But if you want more control over your editing, Photoshop may be the better choice.

Regardless of which method you choose, converting photos into black and white can be a fun and creative way to give your images a new look and feel. With a little experimentation and practice, you can create stunning black-and-white photos.

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That is all. It is that simple to convert color photos to black and white.

I hope this simple and easy how-to guide helped you.

If you are stuck or need help, email me, and I will try to help as much as possible.