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July 24, 2026
Question

When converting and image to B&W, blue tones are not converted to grayscale but retaina blue tint which is deepened when adjusting B&W mix

  • July 24, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 22 views

In Lightroom 15.4.1:

  1. Open Image with blue sky
  2. Generate a virtual copy
  3. Set copy to B&W in Basic panel.
  4. Sky retains a blue tint.
  5. Adjusting blue tones in B&W mix panel deepens or lightens tint but retains the blue colour.
  6. This also happens when using B&W preset such as Infrared

NOTE: In further testing, I have only found this behaviour in two images which have been edited in Photoshop and saved at TIFF.

 

    2 replies

    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 24, 2026

    One thing to check for is adjustments made in panels such as Color Grading or any individual RGB channel Tone Curve. Those adjustments are applied after the profile so if they create any color shift, that will shift the B&W version away from neutral. If you find any of those, reset them to neutral.

     

    In the case of Color Grading at least, that’s intentional, because it’s how someone can simulate a tinted monochrome process such as cyanotype, sepia toning, or other types of for B&W split-toning methods.

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 24, 2026

    Does your image have a sky mask that makes the sky more blue? In that case, it may overlay the sky with a blue tint. That effect remains when you change the image to black & white, because it is a color overlay.

    -- Johan W. Elzenga