Learn how to instantly create high contrast black and white images in Photoshop using Gradient Maps, and the secret to why Gradient Maps give black and white images such a high contrast look.

Photoshop has lots of ways to convert photos to black and white, but Gradient Maps are one of the best because they are so fast and simple to use, and they give us great results. I show you how to add a Gradient Map and why your image instantly turns to black and white. We compare the result to what we get by simply removing the color using Photoshop's Desaturate command. And at the end, we look at a little-known option in the Gradient Editor that's the secret to why black and white images created with Gradient Maps have such high contrast.

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Related Videos:
How to COLOR GRADE Images with Gradient Maps: https://youtu.be/YIJto9o8gv4
Photoshop's HIDDEN Color Grading Presets: https://youtu.be/t455x49Q0VE

VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Opening the image
0:45 - Removing the color with Desaturate
1:59 - Resetting the Foreground and Background colors
2:26 - Converting to black & white with a Gradient Map
2:49 - Comparing Desaturate to the Gradient Map
3:11 - How Gradient Maps turn photos to B&W
4:05 - Why Gradient Maps create high contrast B&W
6:25 - Summary

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