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Convert images to duotone
Last updated on
Oct 7, 2026
Use multiple ink colors to expand the tonal range of grayscale images.
Duotone effects add visual impact and extended tonal depth to grayscale photographs. They're ideal for two-color print projects or artistic treatments.
Duotones use two or more ink colors to reproduce gray levels in an image. This significantly expands tonal range beyond what a single ink can achieve. A printing press reproduces only about 50 gray levels per ink. Combining multiple inks can produce up to 200 tonal levels.
In Photoshop, duotone mode also includes monotones (single-colored inks), tritones (three inks), and quadtones (four inks).
Use this technique when you need enhanced tonal range for print projects or want to create images with colored tints.
Before you begin
- Open the image in Photoshop
- Convert the image to 8-bit grayscale mode
- Understand desired ink colors for your output
Convert your image
Select Discard if prompted to remove color information.
Apply Duotone
Select Image > Mode > Duotone.
Select a type from the Type menu (Monotone, Duotone, Tritone, or Quadtone).
Select a color swatch to choose your ink color.
Type a name for each ink or accept the default.
Select OK.
Your image now displays as a duotone while remaining a single-channel, 8-bit file.
Tip
Photoshop includes preset duotone, tritone, and quadtone combinations. Use the Load button in the Duotone Options dialog box to explore these starting points.
Adjust ink distribution
For more control over duotone curves and ink distribution, select any curve box in the Duotone Options dialog. The curve graph displays highlights on the left and shadows on the right. Drag points on the curve or enter percentage values to control how each grayscale value maps to specific ink densities.
To adjust individual ink separations, convert the image to Multichannel mode by selecting Image > Mode > Multichannel. Note that you can't revert to Duotone mode after this conversion.
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