DIY Tutorial
Approach
This tutorial will be a showcase of different methods of transforming an image into a two tone black and white one. This will remove any grey scaling or mid tones from your image. Each method has different appearances or applications that can vary depending on your use for the image and design preferences. The methods I will be featuring will use: 50% Threshold, Diffusion Dither, Halftone Screen, Threshold, and Posterize. This kind of editing may be useful in things like creating positives or negatives for printmaking, as well as any digital design a two tone image is needed!
Transcript:
0:00
Hello today we will be doing a DIY tutorial for the computers for design class.
Hello today we will be doing a DIY tutorial for the computers for design class.
0:05
We will be learning how to convert images like this one.
We will be learning how to convert images like this one.
0:10
You can do it with pretty much any image you pull into Photoshop.
You can do it with pretty much any image you pull into Photoshop.
0:14
We will be learning how to convert this kind of just regular old image into a solely black and white design with no grayscale in between.
We will be learning how to convert this kind of just regular old image into a solely black and white design with no grayscale in between.
0:23
This can be useful for just things you're designing if that's the look you're going for.
This can be useful for just things you're designing if that's the look you're going for.
0:29
Or namely it can be used for your transparencies or your positives for printmaking if you're like screen printing something, or if you're using like photolithography.
Or namely it can be used for your transparencies or your positives for printmaking if you're like screen printing something, or if you're using like photolithography.
0:41
When you develop the designs into your plate or your screen, you often times cannot have any Gray or the Gray will not show up, so you will need to have.
When you develop the designs into your plate or your screen, you often times cannot have any Gray or the Gray will not show up, so you will need to have.
0:51
You will need to convert the shading into like a solely black and white design instead.
You will need to convert the shading into like a solely black and white design instead.
0:58
The way we're doing this, it will preserve like the shadows and stuff like that through like texturing.
The way we're doing this, it will preserve like the shadows and stuff like that through like texturing.
1:04
And there's a few different ways to do it with different looks.
And there's a few different ways to do it with different looks.
1:06
It's really most of them will work for most green printing or printmaking applications, so it's really up to you on how you like it to look.
It's really most of them will work for most green printing or printmaking applications, so it's really up to you on how you like it to look.
1:17
First things first things first, for every method you will need to set it to grayscale.
First things first things first, for every method you will need to set it to grayscale.
1:22
Just hit discard here and now you have a grayscale image with the Grays included.
Just hit discard here and now you have a grayscale image with the Grays included.
1:26
We're going to try to be getting rid of those.
We're going to try to be getting rid of those.
1:29
For the first method, we will be going back into mode and we'll go to Bitmap, hit flatten layers and most of the methods will be here in Bitmap.
For the first method, we will be going back into mode and we'll go to Bitmap, hit flatten layers and most of the methods will be here in Bitmap.
1:42
50% threshold is the first option and you'll get something like this very very very high contrast dark image.
50% threshold is the first option and you'll get something like this very very very high contrast dark image.
1:52
This looks exceptionally cool for a lot of designs.
This looks exceptionally cool for a lot of designs.
1:56
If you're going for this like very very overexposed like grungy type of appearance, it is useful for that.
If you're going for this like very very overexposed like grungy type of appearance, it is useful for that.
2:06
It could also be useful if you plan on just wanting the shadows and you want to like draw over it in your design.
It could also be useful if you plan on just wanting the shadows and you want to like draw over it in your design.
2:11
Or if you like want to add back in the details with like hand drawing or like a hand drawn positive, or like if you're doing it digitally, just like drawing back over it.
Or if you like want to add back in the details with like hand drawing or like a hand drawn positive, or like if you're doing it digitally, just like drawing back over it.
2:22
It would look very nice for that.
It would look very nice for that.
2:23
This is definitely the easiest one because I only have to change one setting.
This is definitely the easiest one because I only have to change one setting.
2:27
You could always go back through here.
You could always go back through here.
2:31
Bitmap button layers.
Bitmap button layers.
2:34
You always mess with this too on all of them and it will have some varying effects.
You always mess with this too on all of them and it will have some varying effects.
2:39
They didn't seem to change this very much, but you can see it on other ones.
They didn't seem to change this very much, but you can see it on other ones.
2:44
The next method is back in Bitmap, but we'll be going to Diffusion Dither.
The next method is back in Bitmap, but we'll be going to Diffusion Dither.
2:53
I use this one personally for a lithography project of mine recently.
I use this one personally for a lithography project of mine recently.
2:56
I think it's one of my favourites.
I think it's one of my favourites.
2:58
It has a very interesting look.
It has a very interesting look.
3:01
You get a very like let me just push it real quick.
You get a very like let me just push it real quick.
3:05
It didn't seem to do anything.
It didn't seem to do anything.
3:09
That's weird.
That's weird.
3:10
Unless it's so small I can't see it.
Unless it's so small I can't see it.
3:15
Let's zoom in.
Let's zoom in.
3:17
Oh yeah, this is so fine.
Oh yeah, this is so fine.
3:19
OK, this ended up so fine.
OK, this ended up so fine.
3:22
It looked like nothing happened.
It looked like nothing happened.
3:26
So you get this effect where it looks like literally nothing happened but most printing.
So you get this effect where it looks like literally nothing happened but most printing.
3:29
I feel like it's just going to confuse.
I feel like it's just going to confuse.
3:32
Like see like this is all this.
Like see like this is all this.
3:33
There's no Gray, this is all dots, but if you like it looks grainy.
There's no Gray, this is all dots, but if you like it looks grainy.
3:39
It makes the image look older.
It makes the image look older.
3:40
This is very cool.
This is very cool.
3:41
This is not what I thought would happen.
This is not what I thought would happen.
3:42
There's a lot more pixels in this image than I thought there were.
There's a lot more pixels in this image than I thought there were.
3:48
That gave me a different effect, but it looked really cool.
That gave me a different effect, but it looked really cool.
3:51
It could be really useful if you want it to look like almost exactly like just a regular image, but I feel like maybe at that point it might not work as well.
It could be really useful if you want it to look like almost exactly like just a regular image, but I feel like maybe at that point it might not work as well.
4:00
If you especially feel like screen printing or something, just try lowering that.
If you especially feel like screen printing or something, just try lowering that.
4:08
OK, here we go.
OK, here we go.
4:09
So if you lower down the the rate the pixels per inch you start to get a more like visibly like it's almost like kind of like sandy like alien like texture.
So if you lower down the the rate the pixels per inch you start to get a more like visibly like it's almost like kind of like sandy like alien like texture.
4:22
It's kind of like newspapery in a way it's very like like obviously the more it's very like selective not selective but like determined by what image you have clearly because the more pixels you have in the image and the like more noticeable though I mean the less noticeable it will be And you can always mess with the pixels per inch setting that I was don't want to take that off pixels per inch setting that I was to get a either finer or grainier appearance.
It's kind of like newspapery in a way it's very like like obviously the more it's very like selective not selective but like determined by what image you have clearly because the more pixels you have in the image and the like more noticeable though I mean the less noticeable it will be And you can always mess with the pixels per inch setting that I was don't want to take that off pixels per inch setting that I was to get a either finer or grainier appearance.
5:07
Let's put it down really low to see what it looks like like.
Let's put it down really low to see what it looks like like.
5:12
Look at that.
Look at that.
5:13
People use the setting to make maps for knitting.
People use the setting to make maps for knitting.
5:18
I've seen or like crocheting where each of these little blocks will represent a stitch, so they'll have this like pixel map, so they'll and they'll stitch all the way through it and the black will represent one color and the white will represent another.
I've seen or like crocheting where each of these little blocks will represent a stitch, so they'll have this like pixel map, so they'll and they'll stitch all the way through it and the black will represent one color and the white will represent another.
5:32
So when they're done they get a pattern like this in stitching instead of in like an image, which is another really cool use for this type of editing.
So when they're done they get a pattern like this in stitching instead of in like an image, which is another really cool use for this type of editing.
5:44
I'm also I'm pretty sure if you have a like a knitting machine or a embroidering machine you can also do something with the these type of like pixelated for lack of a better term, images of just black and white like positives and negatives.
I'm also I'm pretty sure if you have a like a knitting machine or a embroidering machine you can also do something with the these type of like pixelated for lack of a better term, images of just black and white like positives and negatives.
6:02
I'm not really.
I'm not really.
6:03
I'm not a fiber arts person, so I can't confirm, but if that's something that interests you, you can always look into it.
I'm not a fiber arts person, so I can't confirm, but if that's something that interests you, you can always look into it.
6:11
Uh huh.
Uh huh.
6:11
So this is it.
So this is it.
6:12
Very, very, very compressed with a few amount of pixels per inch.
Very, very, very compressed with a few amount of pixels per inch.
6:18
This gives a very like, it's almost like kind of hard to look at, but in a fun way.
This gives a very like, it's almost like kind of hard to look at, but in a fun way.
6:26
It gives you a very, very textured image, as you saw when I first did it.
It gives you a very, very textured image, as you saw when I first did it.
6:29
Though if you do comparative to like the pixels in your image, if you do like a larger number number of pixels, it's very unnoticeable like you almost can't tell at all.
Though if you do comparative to like the pixels in your image, if you do like a larger number number of pixels, it's very unnoticeable like you almost can't tell at all.
6:40
It has a different effect, they have different uses.
It has a different effect, they have different uses.
6:41
This is a very flexible tool that you can use going back to bitmap because we have more to do in there.
This is a very flexible tool that you can use going back to bitmap because we have more to do in there.
6:48
Half tone screen.
Half tone screen.
6:49
This is a favorite of people when it comes to screen printing especially because like half toning is like what you see in a lot of magazines and stuff like that.
This is a favorite of people when it comes to screen printing especially because like half toning is like what you see in a lot of magazines and stuff like that.
6:59
So it's a very like old comics and stuff like that.
So it's a very like old comics and stuff like that.
7:02
So it's a very like desirable effect to get.
So it's a very like desirable effect to get.
7:04
It also looks really cool and digital art outside of screen printing.
It also looks really cool and digital art outside of screen printing.
7:07
This messes with.
This messes with.
7:08
This messes with the amount of halftone dots that you have in your screen in in your screen in your image.
This messes with the amount of halftone dots that you have in your screen in in your screen in your image.
7:19
This messes with the angle.
This messes with the angle.
7:21
This is important for screen printing I'm pretty sure because of the mesh of your screen.
This is important for screen printing I'm pretty sure because of the mesh of your screen.
7:27
I think 45 is usually the good number.
I think 45 is usually the good number.
7:31
I'm not an expert on that though, so again, now what this tutorial is about.
I'm not an expert on that though, so again, now what this tutorial is about.
7:37
I'm just teaching you how to do it.
I'm just teaching you how to do it.
7:39
This changes the shape of the the dots that you get.
This changes the shape of the the dots that you get.
7:48
Round, diamond and ellipse look mostly the same, especially from a distance, diamond a little less so.
Round, diamond and ellipse look mostly the same, especially from a distance, diamond a little less so.
7:53
Line, square and cross however are very interesting and get some fun results.
Line, square and cross however are very interesting and get some fun results.
7:59
Might not be what you're looking for.
Might not be what you're looking for.
8:01
We'll start out with round just to get a general overview of basic halftoning.
We'll start out with round just to get a general overview of basic halftoning.
8:09
I keep forgetting this image is so large it's if you zoom in it looks like that.
I keep forgetting this image is so large it's if you zoom in it looks like that.
8:15
I'll definitely be bumping that down a bit so we can actually see it.
I'll definitely be bumping that down a bit so we can actually see it.
8:30
There we go.
There we go.
8:31
That's a nice, yeah.
That's a nice, yeah.
8:34
You see how it has like, the dots are a bit larger as they get to the more shaded areas, and smaller when it gets to the more white areas.
You see how it has like, the dots are a bit larger as they get to the more shaded areas, and smaller when it gets to the more white areas.
8:40
So you get this illusion of shading, but everything's just black or white.
So you get this illusion of shading, but everything's just black or white.
8:45
There's not a single Gray insight.
There's not a single Gray insight.
8:49
Useful.
Useful.
8:50
And this is, again, this is just the round dots.
And this is, again, this is just the round dots.
8:52
It's a very basic kind.
It's a very basic kind.
8:53
Again, diamond ellipse looks basically the same.
Again, diamond ellipse looks basically the same.
8:55
Let's go cross.
Let's go cross.
8:56
Let's see what that looks like together.
Let's see what that looks like together.
8:59
I already know, but you're going to see see look instead.
I already know, but you're going to see see look instead.
9:02
You get these little hatching kind of.
You get these little hatching kind of.
9:04
It's a very interesting effect.
It's a very interesting effect.
9:08
Get even more interesting if you make it.
Get even more interesting if you make it.
9:10
If you make the spaces between them larger.
If you make the spaces between them larger.
9:14
Again, it's very, very editable, editable, so it's very much to your to your project, to your fitting, to what you want, just showing off what it may look like.
Again, it's very, very editable, editable, so it's very much to your to your project, to your fitting, to what you want, just showing off what it may look like.
9:24
If you do it.
If you do it.
9:27
See, you get this very like.
See, you get this very like.
9:29
It's like it's through a screen or something.
It's like it's through a screen or something.
9:33
It's very fun.
It's very fun.
9:37
You see why this could be though?
You see why this could be though?
9:39
The turning it to black and white has a more utilitarian use for any sort of printmaking.
The turning it to black and white has a more utilitarian use for any sort of printmaking.
9:47
You can see why even in digital or or digital design you would still want to do something like this because it creates such a different effect to your pieces than what you would start it out with.
You can see why even in digital or or digital design you would still want to do something like this because it creates such a different effect to your pieces than what you would start it out with.
9:57
Especially like even if it is just black and white.
Especially like even if it is just black and white.
10:01
If you just need a black and white image in your piece and you're thinking like this kind of looks a bit boring, then well, you spice it up a bit, go to adjustments.
If you just need a black and white image in your piece and you're thinking like this kind of looks a bit boring, then well, you spice it up a bit, go to adjustments.
10:12
You just got to select the image, go to adjustments, you go to pasteurize and now you have something like this which again does basically the same thing as 50% threshold threshold, but I guess it's another way to do it.
You just got to select the image, go to adjustments, you go to pasteurize and now you have something like this which again does basically the same thing as 50% threshold threshold, but I guess it's another way to do it.
10:29
You could also you can do this without grayscaling it, it will unlike 50% threshold.
You could also you can do this without grayscaling it, it will unlike 50% threshold.
10:36
But you need to hit grayscale to use like I can't click click bitmap now that now that grayscale is unchecked, but if I go here I can still use posterize it go down to two.
But you need to hit grayscale to use like I can't click click bitmap now that now that grayscale is unchecked, but if I go here I can still use posterize it go down to two.
10:47
It definitely looks a lot different, but if you want it like you still have the multiple values in here, you still have the colors preserved, but if you wanted a similar effect, maybe you're like, hey, I still want some of the colors in here for your design or whatever, you can use pasteurize instead and you can also adjust it so you have like the normal image or you could have like something like that.
It definitely looks a lot different, but if you want it like you still have the multiple values in here, you still have the colors preserved, but if you wanted a similar effect, maybe you're like, hey, I still want some of the colors in here for your design or whatever, you can use pasteurize instead and you can also adjust it so you have like the normal image or you could have like something like that.
11:08
So it's like not fully black, just black away, not fully like singular values, like I guess not singular, but like only two values.
So it's like not fully black, just black away, not fully like singular values, like I guess not singular, but like only two values.
11:19
But you have something that's like more, that's like less detailed in the color changes than you had before.
But you have something that's like more, that's like less detailed in the color changes than you had before.
11:29
You also have threshold.
You also have threshold.
11:30
So if you like, change the number, the higher you get, the more it's kind of well, depending on how your thingy looks here.
So if you like, change the number, the higher you get, the more it's kind of well, depending on how your thingy looks here.
11:46
Oh, so like if you go all the way here it's all the way black, but so the higher you get like the more it is black and then the lower you get the more it's white.
Oh, so like if you go all the way here it's all the way black, but so the higher you get like the more it is black and then the lower you get the more it's white.
11:58
And you just kind of like rather than fully having the just 50% threshold, you can decide whatever threshold you want.
And you just kind of like rather than fully having the just 50% threshold, you can decide whatever threshold you want.
12:07
I don't know why this isn't in the same area as 50% or 50% isn't over here as it seems to be a connected feature, but Photoshop has decided this should be in adjustments and the other should be in bitmap.
I don't know why this isn't in the same area as 50% or 50% isn't over here as it seems to be a connected feature, but Photoshop has decided this should be in adjustments and the other should be in bitmap.
12:20
Yeah if you thought hey I'd like 50% threshold but maybe 50% is too much then you can have 24 which is almost nothing.
Yeah if you thought hey I'd like 50% threshold but maybe 50% is too much then you can have 24 which is almost nothing.
12:35
So I guess maybe you should stick by 50 or their fifty seems to be more like in the hundreds so it is a bit different but you can also have to decide to have it more black or less black.
So I guess maybe you should stick by 50 or their fifty seems to be more like in the hundreds so it is a bit different but you can also have to decide to have it more black or less black.
12:50
But yeah, that's how you that's how you get black and white image.
But yeah, that's how you that's how you get black and white image.
12:55
Just black.
Just black.
12:56
Just white image.
Just white image.
12:57
Multiple ways for multiple uses and how you can make it look super cool while doing it.
Multiple ways for multiple uses and how you can make it look super cool while doing it.
13:02
It's not just about the utility but also about the design.
It's not just about the utility but also about the design.
13:05
Yep, that's all.
Yep, that's all.
13:07
Have a good night.
Have a good night.
13:08
Thank you for watching.
Thank you for watching.
