: Best Grayscale method for checking contrast? While designing art assets in Photoshop, I've always tried to use the Grayscale method for checking the contrast levels. Unfortunately, different articles/sources

@Miguel516

Alright, think I cracked it. By comparing the contrast ratios between each method with the 'vanilla' ratios, I found that the black and white proof (D) is the most accurate conversion there is.

Vote Up Vote Down

@Caterina889

F) Channel Mixer adjustment layer or adjustment (either one depending on level of destructiveness desired) Tick the Monochrome option -- Allows complete control in my opinion.



Whatever the default state of the adjustment is, that is what simply switching to greyscale would produce. With the Channel Mixer you can tweak the channels to see where you need to boost or retract in order to increase overall image contrast. I.E., more red, less blue improves contrast. Just watch that Total percentage. You want to keep that at 100% or less. If you see a little warning triangle there, you need to adjust so that the levels equal 100%.

If your desire is to actually convert the image to greyscale, then you can use the Contrast slider in the adjustment. Otherwise, don't mess with that slider if you just want to check what needs to be done to improve overall contrast.

As far as "checking contrast", I'm not sure what you mean. I'm unaware of any Photoshop feature to verify contrast levels. I mean, you can use the histogram but I don't think there's anything that will definitively tell you the contrast levels as they relate to one another beyond the histogram.

Vote Up Vote Down