Black and white photos with a pop of color are an effective way to draw the viewer’s eye where you want it. The contrast of the black and white with a single color makes that color seem more vibrant. This type of photo can create stunning effects.
Luckily, Lightroom makes it easy to convert your photos to black and white while leaving a single color tone. With just a few adjustments, you can create unique black and white photos with a highlight of color.
In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process to make a picture black and white with one color in Adobe Lightroom Classic. Whether you want to make a portrait pop with color or create an artistic landscape, these tips will help you achieve the look you want.
Step 1: Import Your Photo into Lightroom
First, you’ll need to import your photo into the Lightroom library. You can do this by:
- Clicking “Import” in the lower left corner
- Dragging and dropping photos directly into the Lightroom library
- Going to File > Import Photos and Video
Lightroom will save a copy of your original photo so you can always revert back if needed.
Once your photo is imported, select it in the library. You can now move on to editing the photo.
Step 2: Convert the Photo to Black and White
Next, convert your photo to black and white:
- In the Develop module, go to the Basic panel on the right side
- Click on the Profile drop down menu towards the top
- Select one of the black and white profiles such as Adobe Monochrome
This will immediately convert your photo to black and white. Feel free to try out the different black and white profiles to find one you like.
You can also adjust the Treatment in that same Profile drop down menu. The default is None, but you can try Medium Contrast or Strong Contrast for a more dramatic look.
At this point your photo should be black and white. Next we’ll look at leaving behind a single color.
Step 3: Add a Color Tone
With your photo now black and white, it’s time to bring back a splash of color:
- In the Basic panel, click on the Color Mixer option
- Click on the dropper icon next to the Saturation slider
- Click on the color in your photo that you want to remain saturated
This will add saturation back to just that single color tone. The rest of the photo will remain black and white.
You can adjust the Amount slider to control how saturated the color is. Drag it left to desaturate the color or right to make it more bold.
The Range slider expands or contracts the range of similar hues selected. This lets you fine tune the selected color.
Step 4: Refine the Black and White Mix
At this point you might notice the black and white conversion looks a bit flat. Here are some tips for refining the mix:
- Adjust the individual HSL sliders for Hue, Saturation, and Luminance to polish the black and white tones.
- Increase the Contrast slider to make the difference between blacks and whites more dramatic.
- Adjust the tone curve for finer control over contrast and tones.
- Use the Target Adjustment Tool (TAT) to brighten or darken specific areas.
- Brush over areas with the Adjustment Brush to selectively alter color, contrast, and more.
Take your time playing with these tools to get the look you envisioned. The small details make a big difference.
Step 5: Add Finishing Touches
Here are some final touches to consider for your black and white photo with a color tone:
- Add a vignette to draw the eye towards the center.
- Increase clarity for added sharpness and detail.
- Apply grain for a stylized gritty effect.
- Adjust the cropped framing to improve composition.
- Correct lens anomalies like distortion or chromatic aberration.
Take a moment to stand back and look at your photo with fresh eyes. Make any final tweaks needed to create the perfect black and white photo with an accent color.
Conclusion
Following this Lightroom workflow, you can easily convert photos to black and white while preserving a single color tone. The results are eye-catching black and white photos with an artistic splash of color.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Use the B&W profiles to convert to black and white
- Select a color with the Color Mixer
- Refine the tones in the B&W mix
- Add finishing touches to complete your photo
Black and white photos with a hint of color are a great way to add intrigue, focus the eye, and showcase your creative vision.
Lightroom makes the process simple. With just a few adjustments, you can produce stunning black and white photos with color.
Turn your images into works of art and share your unique perspective with the world. So grab your best photos and get creative with this fun black and white effect today!