Black and White attachment layer not functioning

Forum|Forum|7 months ago
September 3, 2025
2 replies
333 views

Hi everyone,

I have a black and white image in RGB/8 bits. I added a black and white attachment layer. I move the cursors, and nothing changes; it's not working.

Any ideas on how to remedy this?

Thank you!

macOS

Correct answer Stephen Marsh

@Eco_emerald

If the base image is already a neutral monotone where R=G=B, then the adjustment layer can't do anything as it's designed to work on full colour images. All you can do is adjust tone, not colour.

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/convert-color-image-black-white.html

Stephen Marsh

Correct answer

Community Expert

@Eco_emerald

If the base image is already a neutral monotone where R=G=B, then the adjustment layer can't do anything as it's designed to work on full colour images. All you can do is adjust tone, not colour.

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/convert-color-image-black-white.html

E

Eco_emeraldAuthor

Participant

Thank you Stephen.

D Fosse

Community Expert

It looks to me like your base image is already black and white. Then nothing can possibly happen when moving the sliders in the adjustment layer - there are no underlying color components to mix.

Try again with a color image.

E

Eco_emeraldAuthor

Participant

Thank you. It has been my process, though, until now. I could use the different 'colour' sliders and see the change in the tones. I'll use Levels and Curves to adjust the tones.

D Fosse

Community Expert

Yes, you will, if you use it on a color image. That's the purpose of it. Mixing the underlying color components will affect the tones in the resulting monochrome image.

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