Jan 18, 2010

Rockin' black and whites on a budget

You don't need an expensive editing program to achieve a great black and white! In this tutorial I am using flickr/picnik to edit but you can use almost any editing program to achieve this affect. Picnik costs $24.95 a year. Lightroom costs $300.

Here is our original photo. Click on edit photo.
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 5.45.20 PM

Which takes us to this page. Click on the create tab.
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 5.48.40 PM

Click on the effects tab. And then click on black and white.
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 5.49.26 PM
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 5.49.32 PM


Then click on the edit tab. You will get asked this question. Yes! We would like to apply the effect.
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 5.51.46 PM

Once in the edit section click on the exposure tab.
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 5.52.10 PM


Go ahead and boost your contrast up!  Ok, we're almost there.
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 5.52.28 PM


Click the create tab again. And then click on the advanced tab.
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 6.16.33 PM


Then click on curves.
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 6.16.51 PM


Go ahead and adjust it just a smidgen to brighten our photo. There we have it! Doesn't it look awesome!
Screen shot 2010-01-15 at 6.17.13 PM


This can be done with almost any editing program. Follow these steps: change to b&w, boost your contrast, brighten your photo just a smidgen, and depending on the photo you may want to sharpen. Anyone can do it!

Now can you tell which one I edited with lightroom and which one was edited with picnik?

lightroom edit
Picnik edit!


I didn't think so. :)

4 comments:

  1. Wow, great tips! I have the Creative Memories software, but I can still use your tips by adjusting the contrast and brightness. I've never tried this. I usually just hit "Black and White" and leave it.

    Thanks Monica!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I LOVE Picnik!!

    I edited the photos in this post there and have had ton's of comments on them on Facebook!

    http://ourtraditionalhome.blogspot.com/2010/01/homemade-vanilla.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your tutorials. They are so to the point and easy to apply! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Genial fill someone in on and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you for your information.

    ReplyDelete

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