Color Monochrome

Convert a color image to black and white with a color tint

The Color Monochrome adjustment controls are useful when you want to perform a basic conversion from color to black and white while simultaneously applying a color tint to the image’s midtones.

Figure. Image before and after a Color Monochrome adjustment.

Convert a color image to black and white and add a color tint

  1. Select a photo.

  2. If the Color Monochrome controls aren’t shown in the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, choose Color Monochrome from the Add Adjustment pop-up menu, and specify the following settings:

    Figure. Controls in the Color Monochrome area of the Adjustments inspector.

    • To choose a different tint color: Click the Color well and select a new tint color from the Colors window, or click the disclosure button (to the right of the color well) and select a new tint color from the pop-up color palette.

    • To adjust the strength of the color tint applied to the image: Use the Intensity slider.

      By default, the color intensity is set to the maximum value of 1.0, which is full desaturation and maximum color tint.

The image is converted to black and white, with the selected color tint applied to the midtones.

You can also brush the Color Monochrome adjustment on specific areas of an image. For more information, see Apply brushed adjustments.