Color to Monochrome to Sepia Tone

I like to regularly use the Channel Mixer adjustment to convert my images from color to monochrome. The result of such a conversion will be shown in the image at the end of this article.  This process has the advantage of being simple to implement and is reasonably intuitive to use through moving the sliders in the Channel Mixer dialog box. Also since the conversion is done in an layer, thus the conversion can be modified at any time provided the image is saved without flattening the layers.

Original Color Image

The following steps will guide you through the process of this conversion.

Open the file that you have chosen to convert from color to black and white.
Once the file is open, go to your layers pallet; click and hold on your background layer, then drag this background  layer on to the "New Layer" icon.
You have just now created a new layer or background copy of your original layer.  All of the changes in creating the MonoChrome image will occur on this layer. 



Next go up to "IMAGE", click on and then scroll down to "ADJUSTMENTS", then to CHANNEL MIXER."
A box will come up on the screen that has " Out put Channel" and "Source Channel".
Just below the Source Channel there will be THREE channels that are titled
Red, Green and Blue. Each channel has a slide bar that has a % number.
This is the area you will be making the tonality changes to your Color Image.
Just below this area you will notice  another slider "Constant with a % number. I generally leave this slider set a o%.

At the bottom of the box you will notice a small check box and the word "Monochrome", by checking this box, you will noticed that your color image has just turned to a Black and White image.



The image is now ready to start the process of creatively adjusting the various tonalities in your image.
Now go back to the Red, Green and Blue sliders to start creatively making those tonal adjustments in your image.
Try to maintain a 100% total from the adjustments when you combine the Red, Green and Blue sliders.   ( Red might be 60% - Green might be 30% and blue might come in at 10%, which in turn adds up to 100%)

When viewing the individual channels of an image, try to find the best possible channel - look for tonality that describes the image to your liking.

We now have converted are image to monochrome.

Now we will transform are MonoChrome image into a Sepia Tone.
Click or Highlight  the "Background Copy layer" in the Layers Pallet.
Go to "Image" on the menu bar and click on it. Scroll down to "Adjustments-Color Balance" and click on "Color Balance" (Ctrl B for PC users). 
At this time I would like to remind you that the color or tonality of your final image is completely up to you. One persons likes is another persons dislikes. You are the only one you have to please.
You should now be viewing your Color Balance dialog box.

Check the "Preview Box". This option will show your adjustments.
Now is the time to start adjusting your colors levels to create your 
Sepia Tone image. You have two choice here in that you can move
sliders or you can also just type in a numeric value in the boxes 
next to "Color Levels".

Try the following BELOW settings as a starting point for your Sepia Tone image.
Remember, the interpretation of color is in the EYE of the Beholder. It becomes very subjective and you are the only one you have to please.



You have now completed the transformation of your monochrome image 
to an image that has this wondrous tonality of Sepia quality.
Remember the settings above are only a starting point, it is left up to
the artist to make that final judgment on how those tonalities will be viewed.

Mouse over the below image to view my final interpretation of my 
conversion of a MonoChrome image to Sepia Tone.
This conversion example is just one of several ways to convert your images in to the Sepia Tone Tonality.

May the quality of light always be with you and may your inner most 
soul always be open to change and acceptance.