Select Image > Mode > Grayscale to convert your image if it isn't already in grayscale mode.
Last updated on
Oct 7, 2026
Apply multiple ink colors to grayscale photos to expand tonal range and create striking print effects.
Duotone mode prints images with two, three, or four inks instead of black alone, expanding tonal depth from 50 to 200+ gray levels.
Use duotones for print jobs with spot colors or to add subtle color tints to monochromatic images. They work well for two-color print projects where budget or design limits full-color printing. Start with an 8-bit grayscale image and adjust ink distribution through curves. Learn more about duotones in Photoshop.
- 8-bit grayscale image
- Target ink colors or ink swatch books
- Print workflow requirements
Convert a grayscale image to duotone mode
Select Image > Mode > Duotone to open the Duotone Options dialog box.
Select Preview to see real-time changes.
From the Type menu, select Monotone, Duotone, Tritone, or Quadtone depending on how many inks you want to use.
Select the color box (solid square) next to Ink 1 to open the Color Picker, then select Color Libraries and choose your ink book and color.
Repeat for each additional ink, specifying inks from darkest to lightest for best saturation.
Select OK to apply the duotone conversion.
Tip
For traditional duotone printing, use black ink for shadows and a lighter or colored ink for midtones and highlights.
Adjust ink distribution curves
Each ink uses a curve that controls color distribution from highlights to shadows. Modify these curves to achieve specific visual effects. By default, grayscale values map equally to ink percentages, but you can modify these curves to achieve specific visual effects.
In the Duotone Options dialog box, select the curve box (empty square) next to any ink color to open the Duotone Curve dialog box.
Drag points on the curve graph or enter percentage values to control ink density at different tonal values.
Highlights appear on the left, shadows on the right, with ink density increasing vertically.
Enter a percentage to specify ink coverage at each grayscale level. For example, entering 70 in the 100% box uses 70% ink coverage for full black shadows.
Select Save to preserve custom curves, or select Load to apply saved curves.
Select OK to apply your curve adjustments.
Note
The Info panel displays actual ink percentages when its readout mode is set to Actual Color, reflecting any curve modifications you've made.
Adjust overprint color display
When inks overlap during printing, they create overprint colors. For example, cyan over yellow produces green. Adjust how these combinations appear on your monitor to predict printed results.
Select Overprint Colors in the Duotone Options dialog box to view how ink combinations will appear when printed.
Select any color swatch representing an ink combination you want to adjust.
Choose your preferred color in the Color Picker, then select OK.
Repeat for each overprint combination you want to refine, then select OK to close the dialog box.
Alert
Overprint color adjustments affect only on-screen preview. Calibrate your monitor and use printed ink samples for accurate color prediction.
Save and load duotone settings
In the Duotone Options dialog box, select Save to preserve your complete set of curves, ink selections, and overprint colors as a preset.
Name your preset file and choose a location, then select Save.
To apply saved settings to another grayscale image, convert the image to Duotone mode and select Load in the Duotone Options dialog box.
Navigate to your saved preset file, select it, and choose Open to apply all settings at once.
Tip
Photoshop includes sample presets with common curve and color combinations. Use these as starting points for your own configurations.
View individual ink separations
Duotones are single-channel images that show only the composite result. Convert to Multichannel mode to examine each ink as a separate spot color channel.
After configuring your duotone inks and curves, select Image > Mode > Multichannel to convert the image.
Open the Channels panel to see each ink represented as an individual spot color channel.
Select any channel to examine how that specific ink will separate when printed.
Select Edit > Undo Multichannel to immediately revert to Duotone mode and continue editing.
Caution
Edits made in Multichannel mode can't be reversed to Duotone mode unless you use the History panel. Make all adjustments in Duotone mode before converting.
Print duotone separations
With your duotone image prepared, select File > Print to open the Print dialog box.
In the Color Management section, select Separations from the Profile menu.
Verify printer settings and halftone screen angles if your print workflow requires specific configurations.
Select Print to output individual separations for each ink without converting the image to CMYK mode.
Note
Ink order and screen angles affect results. Consult your print service provider or adjust halftone angles on your printer's RIP.
Export duotones for page layout applications
Save duotones in formats that preserve spot color information for proper separation in page layout software like InDesign.
Select File > Save As to open the Save dialog box.
From the Format menu, select Photoshop EPS or Photoshop PDF for standard duotone exports.
If your image has additional spot channels beyond duotone inks, convert to Multichannel mode, then select Photoshop DCS 2.0 format.
Name custom spot colors using suffixes your page layout application recognizes for proper color identification.
Select Save and configure any format-specific options in the subsequent dialog box.
Caution
Converting to CMYK mode replaces custom spot colors with CMYK equivalents that may not match your intended print inks. Export directly from Duotone mode.
Learn more about export files to different formats for detailed guidance on exporting to different file formats and preparing files for various workflows
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