The preferred way to convert a color image to black and white is with a Channel Mixer adjustment layer. This method gives you the most control and often produces the best results. Learn all about using the Channel Mixer adjustment in this third installment of our series on converting color photos to black and white.

Use two hue saturation adjustment layers to gain control over converting a color photo to black and white. The results are often close to what you'll get using a channel mixer adjustment (which we'll cover in the next show), but the interface is more intuitive for many folks.

Learn a couple of quick and dirty ways to convert a color photograph to black and white. The desaturate and hue saturation adjustments offer quick solutions. The results of these methods are similar, but the hue saturation adjustment is the better of the two, because it can be applied in an adjustment layer that doesn’t change the underlying color photo.

These methods are useful if you’re in a hurry, but they don’t maximize the range of tones in the resulting black and white photograph. In the next two shows, I’ll show you some better ways to convert a color photo to black and white. So stay tuned.

Use a gradient map adjustment layer to sepia tone a photograph. This method maps different shades of browns, blacks, and whites to the grayscale tones in the image. The results are richer and more varied than you usually can achieve with the photo filter or hue saturation methods of sepia toning you learned in part 1 of this episode.

Learn two quick ways to sepia tone a photograph, with a photo filter adjustment layer and a hue saturation adjustment layer. Check back for part 2 of this episode, where I'll show you a third way to sepia tone, using a gradient map adjustment layer for even richer sepia tones.

Learn to animate a layer mask in Photoshop CS2. We'll animate a night scope in a forest, but this technique can be used to make lots of novel animations. Think about some other ways you can put this technique to use: - animate a magnifying glass or a view through a telescope by scaling the two images differently, - animate a spotlight on a scene by lightening the image on the masked layer, - throw one of the images out of focus, - make one image black and white and leave the other in full color. Use your imagination!

Photoshop Elements 5.0 was released today. Although I love Photoshop, I have to admit that Elements is a great deal, particularly for non-professional photographers. It's $89.99 or $69.99 for an upgrade version at the Adobe Store. Elements 5.0 has some cool new features, including:

• Interactive Flash Web Galleries, with very cool themes, including a book whose pages turn, and a turning carousel of your photos, as well as a more classic layouts.
• Photo Maps, that show the location of your photos on interactive Yahoo maps.
• Color Curves adjustment, with an easier to use interface than curves in Photoshop.
• Adjust Sharpness adjustment, giving you more control over sharpening photos than Unsharp Mask.
• Convert to Black and White, a collection of visual controls for getting the best color to black and white photo conversions.
• Correct Camera Distortion filter, for fixing photo perspective and vignetting.
• Photo layouts, with fun templates for sharing multiple photos on the Web or burned to CD.
• Artwork and Effects palette, with new backgrounds, frames, graphics, and themes to enhance your photos.

A background gradient is a great way to add color, focus, and spice to a photograph. In just a few easy steps you can jump the subject of your photo onto its own layer, and create a glowing radial gradient behind the subject.