How to print black and white photos

A guide to creating high-quality monochrome prints and photo albums

Colour photography was invented at the turn of the 20th century, yet printing in colour is a much more recent innovation. Colour printing became possible in the 1970s, and by the late 80s, colour printers were more affordable and accessible to the public. Despite the possibilities that printing in colour brings, many photographers still prefer to work in black and white, and the technique never really went out of fashion. Printing photos in monochrome has the ‘less is more’ effect. By removing the distraction of colour, it allows us to focus on other aspects of the photo, such as the subject, the emotion, the shapes and the relationship between light and dark. The choice to print in monochrome isn’t always about how it makes the photo look; often, it’s more about creating a piece that harmonises with the space, or making photos taken at different times look like they belong together. A room boasting patterned furnishings with a multicoloured theme might appear too ‘busy’ if you decorate the walls and shelves with photographs in colour too. Yet print them in black and white, and suddenly you transform the room with striking pieces that draw the eye.

Optimise your photos for black and white printing

When black and white photography was the only option, people used to play around with unrealistic colours for clothing and makeup to perfect their photos. We are not suggesting that you try the classic blue blusher and yellow lipstick combination! But there are a few things you can do to adjust your colour photos ready for printing in black and white.

Quieten the noise

Noise in a photograph occurs when there is too little light in the room for the camera to handle. Photos can turn out looking grainy and blurry, which can actually be worsened if we then switch the photo to black and white because there is even less contrast in the image. So as adorable as your little one looks sleeping in their cot at night, it might not be the best time to capture a photo! Wait until daylight to take your photos for printing in black and white, or select photos from your camera roll in which the subjects are well lit.

Editing

Editing photos isn’t only for professionals. There are many affordable apps and computer software programmes that enable you to make small tweaks to your photos before making them black and white. Altering the highlights and shadows, as well as the brightness and contrast levels, can make a huge difference to the overall look of your photos. Photographs tend to look darker in print than they do on screen, so it is worth considering this when editing. For the final step, you can either change the photo to black and white using your editing app or software, or pick the grayscale filter for each photo when ordering your Rosemood photo prints and photo books.
Note: before editing your photo, ensure that its resolution is saved at 300 DPI so that your printed photos will be high in quality. You can find step-by-step information on how to do this in our guide on enlarging photos for print.

Paper

The paper we print our photos on affects how they appear to the eye. Paper doesn’t reflect light in the same way that our computer screens do, and we are used to having our monitors and phones turned up to a high brightness level too. Glossy, satin-coated papers are best at reflecting light and can handle printing large sections of black ink. Matte papers are wonderful for giving your photos a more natural finish and avoid the double glare that you get with a glossy paper behind a glass frame. At the other end of the spectrum, textured papers look beautifully rustic and traditional, yet they absorb more of the light so they risk making greys and blacks look darker. Explore the range of papers that Rosemood offers for photo prints and photo albums to choose the best one for you.

Create a black and white photo wall

Assembling your monochrome photos around your home and enjoying the finished look will make the tiny bit of editing worth your while! Gallery walls look particularly striking when a range of shapes and sizes are used for your photos. Explore our photo print sizes for inspiration before ordering your prints. You can then play around with the arrangement of your prints on the floor before translating that design onto your wall. While our premium photo prints have been designed especially for displaying in a poster hanger or framing on your wall, premium thick photo prints are also available. These are backed onto a double-thickness board, enabling you to prop them up on shelves or slot them into a photo holder.

Cherish your black and white photos in an album

Reliving your memories captured on camera doesn’t necessarily mean you have to hang them on your walls. Photo books and albums are simple to create and will keep all your photos, old and new, together in one place. Switch your colour photographs to black and white to make them match those old monochrome family photos from the years gone by. You can then peruse all your photos at your leisure and for your pleasure, placing the photo album on the coffee table in your living room for guests to enjoy too. Rosemood offers a range of stunning photo book designs with high-quality photo printing that make thoughtful gifts and lovely keepsakes. Stick to the monochrome theme with a magazine-style soft cover photo album that looks like something from the 1960s fashion world. Alternatively, introduce a pop of colour and texture with a fabric, foil-stamped hardcover album, complete with a luxurious gift box.

If you have any queries about printing your photos in black and white in an album or photo prints, get in touch with our team and we will be delighted to assist you.