Greyscale Conversion (Photoshop)

This article explains how to prepare and convert a greyscale image to be used as a Vusic brush or fill.

For the best results the image should span the entire range of greys. To expand the range, do the following:
1. Open the Levels Dialog (Image -> Adjust -> Levels...).
2. In the Input Levels diagram, drag the open rightmost triangle to be just below the rightmost bar.
3. Drag the black triangle to be just to the left of the leftmost bar.
4. If the leftmost bar is flush to the left of the diagram, this means that there is black in the image. If you want to remove the black, then leave the black triangle alone and type "1" into the left Output Levels box that says "0".
5. Click the "OK" button.


Converting for Fills

1. Make sure the image is in RGB mode.
2. Set foreground to pure green (RGB = 0,255,0).
3. Open Fill dialog (Edit -> Fill...).
4. Set Contents to Use Foreground Color.
5. Set Blending to Opacity 100% and Mode to Multiply.
6. Click the "OK" button.


Converting for Brushes

1. Make sure the image is in RGB mode.
2. Set the magic wand tool to Tolerance "0".
3. If the brush is anti-aliased against white, then turn on the Anti-aliased setting for the tool.
4. If the brush is aliased against white, then turn off the Anti-aliased setting for the tool.
5. Select the white background area with the magic wand tool.
6. Inverse the selection (Select -> Inverse).
7. Set foreground to pure green (RGB = 0,255,0).
8. Open Fill dialog (Edit -> Fill...).
9. Set Contents to Use Foreground Color.
10. Set Blending to Opacity 100% and Mode to Multiply.
11. Click the "OK" button.

If the brush is aliased against white, then add the following steps:
12. Open the Blue channel in the Channels Windows.
13. Open the Threshold dialog (Image -> Adjust -> Threshold...).
14. Set the threshold level to 1.
15. Click the "OK" button.
16. Turn of the Anti-aliased setting for the magic wand tool.
17. Select the white background in the Blue channel.
18. Select the RGB channel in the Channels Window.
19. With background area still selected, delete area (background should be white).


Back to Tips & Tricks | Home