Everything you need to know about Black/White Levels
Black/White Levels converts your image to grayscale while giving you precise control over the tonal range. By adjusting the input black and white points, you can set which brightness values become pure black and pure white, then stretch everything in between for maximum contrast.
Parameters
- Input Black (0–255)
Sets the darkest input value that will become pure black in the output. Pixels at or below this value turn black. Increasing this value darkens the image and adds contrast by crushing shadow detail. - Input White (0–255)
Sets the brightest input value that will become pure white in the output. Pixels at or above this value turn white. Decreasing this value brightens the image and clips highlights.
How It Works
The plugin first converts each pixel to luminance (grayscale) using perceptual weighting. Then it remaps the brightness values: everything between Input Black and Input White gets stretched to span the full 0–255 range.
Tips
- Start with default values (0 and 255) for a standard grayscale conversion
- Raise Input Black to deepen shadows and add drama
- Lower Input White to brighten a dark image
- Use narrow ranges (e.g., 50–200) for high-contrast black and white effects