Creating a dark and moody look for your photos can add a certain atmosphere and drama to your work. One popular technique for achieving this is by using black and white adjustment layers in Photoshop. In this tutorial, we’ll take a look at how to create dark cinematic tones using this technique.

Step 1: Create a Black and White Adjustment Layer

The first step is to create a black and white adjustment layer. This can be done by going to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black and White. Once the layer is created, we can adjust the settings to achieve the desired effect. For this tutorial, we’ll use the High Contrast Blue Filter preset, which can be found by clicking on the presets dropdown menu in the Properties panel.

Step 2: Change Blend Mode and Opacity

After we’ve created the black and white adjustment layer, we’ll change the blend mode to Multiply. This will darken the image and add depth to the shadows. We can also reduce the opacity of the layer to around 65%, depending on the image we’re working with. This will allow some of the original color to show through, while still maintaining the dark and moody effect.

Step 3: Adjust the Blending Options

To further refine the effect, we can adjust the blending options of the black and white adjustment layer. To do this, we’ll right-click on the layer and select Blending Options. Then, we’ll use the Alt or Option key to split the bottom slider and reveal some of the white in the image. This will help to balance the contrast and prevent the image from becoming too dark.

Step 4: Apply the Effect to Other Images

Once we’ve created the desired effect on one image, we can easily apply it to other images by dragging the adjustment layer onto the new image. This can be done by selecting the black and white adjustment layer in the Layers panel and dragging it onto the new image. The layer will be applied as a new adjustment layer, and we can adjust the opacity and blending options as needed for each image.

In conclusion, using black and white adjustment layers in Photoshop is a powerful technique for creating dark and moody cinematic tones. By following these simple steps, we can achieve a dramatic effect that adds depth and atmosphere to our photos. So go ahead and give it a try on your own images, and see how you can take your photography to the next level.

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