Affinity Tutorial - Converting Photos to Black & White

Most standard photo adjustments can be accomplished in all three Affinity programs. The steps are the same in Designer, Photo and Publisher. These adjustments are non-destructive and done via layer adjustments.

Select your photo
Either:
a. Go to the layers menu and choose New Adjustment - There are a number of adjustments to choose from.
or
b. At the bottom of the layers panel click on the adjustment layers icon - it looks like a half filled circle


To Convert your Photo to Black and White
Select your photo
Create a "Black and White" adjustment layer.


If you are like me, losing the colour can lose some of the contrast in your photo because some of the colours turn into the same grey. Adjusting the colour sliders will adjust them. You can make a colour band darker or lighter increasing the contrast in the different parts of the photo.


We can refine the photo further adjusting the contrast, increasing the impact of your photo. There are a number of methods that can be used, your choice will depend on how much control you want to put into the finished result.

Adding More Contrast - Method 1: Using Brightness/Contrast
This is by far the simplest method.

Select your photo
Create a "Brightness/Contrast" adjustment layer.

Here I have increased the Brightness some, and the Contrast by 50%.

Adding More Contrast - Method 2: Using Levels
Using levels gives you more control over the finished result.

Select your photo
Create a "Levels" adjustment layer.

By adjusting the sliders you can change either just the darker parts of your image or just the lighter parts or both. How much you move the sliders will be determined by how subtle or dramatic you want the finished result to be. Take some time to experiment.

Adding More Contrast - Method 3: Using Curves
Using levels gives you the most control over the finished result, but it takes more practice.

Select your photo
Create a "Curves" adjustment layer.

You make adjustments by clicking on the curve and moving the handles. How much you change the curve and how many handles you add to it will be determined by how subtle, variable or dramatic you want the finished result to be. I rarely use it so can't give any hints really, except that if you put the time into experimenting and learning how to use it curves can be a powerful adjustment tool.
If you want to find out more on using curves I recommend finding some video tutorials on using curves online. (Even photoshop tutorials can teach you how to use this method.)

 

@ninigoesdigi please would you add this to the alphabetical listings, thank you.