Plug-ins and software to make mono super-simple

Save yourself time by using dedicated black and white plug-ins to get successful monochrome conversions with a single click

Whil e there is a host of black-and-white effects available in Lightroom or Photoshop, going beyond the preset choices means you need to spend time adjusting the settings to achieve different results. However, there are other software options that offer a wider range of preset looks and effects. These can often be used as a plug-in within your existing Lightroom or Photoshop software, so you have to choose the plug-in as an effect or processing option to access them. These software tools all offer a range of preset options, ranging from toning, printing and film to camera ‘looks’ that you can simply apply by clicking on the relevant option.

You can then fine-tune the effect, and even apply many different effects to a single image, although you need to use a little caution to avoid an over-processed and gaudy result. Even so, they offer much quicker and easier access to a wider range of black-and-white effects, without having to delve into the different settings and adjustments of Photoshop.