Black/White option Greyed Out

[miz_nrg]

I have a jpeg image that I would like to apply a Black/White adjustment layer to and then ideally fade it by about 50% in order to use it as a background image.  However, when I attempt to apply the Black/White adjustment layer the option is greyed out.  Does anyone know why this is and also how I can work around this?  This is not a copyrighted image or anything.  It is an image of our building that a previous employee took years ago.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Mel

[Ozzwoman9 · Accepted solution]

Switch to RGB 8 bit.

[miz_nrg]

Well, there you go.  Now I feel silly!  Thanks!

[alari73512]

Hello! im running the cc 2019 version and it isnt working for some reason

[AdofromAustralia]

I'm having the exact same issue! It's in RGB colour, check. 8 Bit, check. Black and white layer is stil grayed out! Nothing visible is happening. I'm following a Youtube tutorial and this step is killing me!

[shivam_wadhawan]

HI,

Try to do these steps

-Go to image >mode and change it to RGB color.

Issue resolved

Cheers

Shivam

[tondaj14561180]

What if I want to keep in CMYK?

[SanguineInk]

Switch to RGB, apply Black/White layer, then switch back to CMYK.

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

As there are more than one CMYK space/profiel, take note of the original (for what that may be worth). I'd suggest converting to a smart object layer, then open the smart object .psb file, then convert to RGB and apply the B&W adjustment layer, save and close. The results will then be translated back into the original CMYK space (if the profile was embedded, otherwise working CMYK would be used).

That being said, a B&W image in CMYK mode is better off having a higher ratio of K to CMY than a regular photo is in order to maintain a neutral appearance... Which means using a CMYK with a higher GCR component or channel mixing more CMY into the K while maintaining the same look/feel, being sure to stay under total ink limits. The B&W CMYK image usually only needs higher values of CMY in the darkest areas, the midtones and lighter areas need more K than CMY if you wish to play it safe.

Ah, the joys of CMYK!

[MystiMac]

I started out with a photo that is black and white, and RGB originally. I clicked on the b&w icon, didn't see any visible changes. Image looks great onscreen, like the photo I originally started with. But when I print it out, it prints out in kind of a sepia tone. I tried regular paper, glossy photo paper. Same thing happens if I convert the photo to grayscale. Any explanations or help?