A two tone photo, also known as a duotone image, is a photo that has been digitally converted to contain only two main colors. This creative technique results in an eye-catching, high-contrast image that draws the viewer’s attention to the photo’s shapes, textures, and patterns.
How Are Two Tone Photos Created?
In the days of film photography, two tone images were created in the darkroom using specialist techniques and chemicals. However, in the digital age, duotone photos can easily be produced using photo editing software like Photoshop and Lightroom.
The process involves converting the photo to grayscale first. Then, two colored layers (often contrasting hues like black and white) are overlaid on top of the grayscale image. The upper layers help bring out certain details, adds mood and visual interest to the photo.
The photographer can control the opacity and blending mode of the duotone layers. This allows them to find the right balance between the grayscale background and the accent colors. With some experimentation, stunning high-contrast two tone images can be created.
What Are Some Common Color Combinations?
There are endless possibilities when it comes to choosing the two colors for a duotone image. However, some combinations tend to be used more often than others:
- Black and white – This high-contrast combo works well for dramatic shots. The white brings out highlights while the black emphasizes shadows.
- Sepia and black – Warm sepia tones plus bold black creates a rich, antique mood.
- Blue and yellow – These complementary colors spaced apart on the color wheel produce eye-catching images.
- Purple and green – Another high-contrast complementary duo for vibrant duotones.
- Red and cyan – The bold red pops against a cool cyan background.
In some cases, the photographer may opt to use two shades of the same hue, like a dark and light blue. This can create a more subtle, monochromatic vibe.
When Are Two Tone Photos Effective?
Duotone images are especially striking when the photo contains strong lines, shapes and textures. The high-contrast colors help draw the viewer’s eye to these details. That’s why geometric architecture, weathered landscapes, and macro photos often make great candidates for two tone editing.
This technique also works well for jazzing up portrait photography. Converting a portrait to black and white then adding a bold highlight color brings drama and intrigue to the person’s face. It can also conceal blemishes and flaws in the skin.
Two tone styling tends to look best on simple compositions where there are large swathes of a single color or texture. Busy, cluttered images with many competing elements can become overly chaotic when reduced down to just two colors.
What Are the Benefits of a Two Tone Photo?
There are several reasons why a photographer may choose to present their work as a two tone image:
- Dramatic effect – The high-contrast colors boost visual impact and create an eye-catching photo.
- Draws attention to shapes and textures – With color stripped back, the viewer notices intricate details in the image.
- Vintage feel – Sepia and black duotones evoke nostalgia and old-fashioned charm.
- Artistic expression – Duotones allow photographers to add their own creative aesthetic.
- Conceals flaws – High-contrast monochrome helps hide blemishes in portraits.
- Branding – Some brands use signature duotone styles for their marketing photography.
This styling effect ultimately helps grab people’s attention and makes the photo seem more unique and memorable.
How Can You Edit a Portrait Photo Into a Two Tone?
Turning a color portrait into an artistic duotone print is simple with digital editing tools like Photoshop and Lightroom. Here are the basic steps:
- Open the color photo and duplicate the background layer.
- On the top layer, go to Image > Adjustments > Black & White. This will desaturate the layer to grayscale.
- Lower the opacity of the black and white layer to around 50% so the original color shows through.
- Add a new layer on top and fill it with your first accent color (e.g. dark blue). Change the layer blending mode to Color.
- Adjust the opacity of the blue layer until you’re happy with the tone. Repeat with a second color layer (e.g. yellow) using the opposite blending mode.
- Add a black and white adjustment layer to boost the contrast. Make final tweaks to get your desired duotone effect.
You can take this even further by selectively painting the accent colors onto specific areas like clothing, lips, eyes etc. Using masking techniques will help you target the duotone effect for maximum impact.
How Did Two Tone Photography Originate?
The technique of creating two-toned monochromatic images dates back to the 19th century and the early days of photography. Some key moments in the origins and evolution of duotone style include:
- 1840s – Early pictorial photographers experimented with monochrome printing processes using chalk, ink and paint to manually tint photographic prints.
- 1860s – Albumen silver printing method allowed separate glass negatives to be used for highlighting and shading when printing monochrome photos.
- 1895 – Pioneering photographer Alfred Maskell created hand-tinted platinum prints with an abstract duotone look for his exhibition in London.
- 1930s – Kodak released its first commercially available double-tone printing papers, allowing more photographers to produce duotones.
- 1980s – Digital image editing software empowered a new generation of photographers to start digitally layering tones and colors.
- 1990s – Desk-top publishing and digital print technologies enabled much finer photo printing control and quality for detailed duotones.
So while two-tone imagery now represents a very modern, digital photography style, its origins can be traced back to the early days of monochrome printing processes and hand-crafted image manipulation techniques.
What Are Some Examples of Stunning Two Tone Photography?
To inspire your own duotone experiments, here are some beautiful examples by talented photographers across various genres:
1. Architecture
| Photographer | Edward Dozier |
| Location | Chicago, USA |
| Colors | Cyan and brown |
| What makes it work | The contrasting tones bring out the geometric patterns and textural detail in the urban architecture. |
2. Portraiture
| Photographer | India Earl |
| Subject | Woman with face paint |
| Colors | Pink and teal |
| What makes it work | The complementary colors enhance the creative face paint and draw the viewer’s gaze to her eyes. |
3. Still Life
| Photographer | Amanda Bowles |
| Subject | Collection of antique cameras |
| Colors | Sepia and cyan |
| What makes it work | The vintage, desaturated look gives the old cameras a fittingly nostalgic feel. |
4. Food Photography
| Photographer | Cheng Hao |
| Subject | Sliced oranges |
| Colors | Orange and aqua |
| What makes it work | The zesty orange pops against the cool aqua to reflect the citrusy freshness of the fruit. |
5. Fashion
| Photographer | Elizaveta Porodina |
| Model | Elza Kaupe in black hat and coat |
| Colors | Mustard and burgundy |
| What makes it work | The bold, luxurious colors complement the high fashion style and elegance of the model. |
As you can see, the duo-tone effect brings something unique and visually arresting to all kinds of photography. The color contrast adds atmosphere, clarity and interest to your images.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Editing Two Tone Photos?
To get the most stunning results from your duotone images, here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Choosing colors that are too similar – Have sufficient contrast between your two tones.
- Overdoing it on busy images – Keep it simple, duotones suit straightforward compositions best.
- Not masking properly – Use layers, masks and blending modes to target the duotone effect selectively.
- Going overboard on edits – Subtlety is key, let some original detail show through.
- Using more than two colors – Resist the urge to add more tones, keep to the duotone aesthetic.
- Uneven coloring – Ensure consistent application of the tones across the image.
- Forcing an effect – Some images just don’t suit this style, don’t try to duotone everything.
Also, take the time to experiment with different color combinations, opacities and blending techniques. Duotones take some finessing to perfect so be prepared to adjust the editing layers until you land on something you love.
How Can You Take Striking Duotone Photos With Your Smartphone?
With some creative shooting and easy editing apps, anyone can start making pro-looking two tone photography with their iPhone or Android smartphone. Here are some tips:
- Focus on shape and texture – Photograph subjects with strong lines, patterns and surfaces.
- Use minimalist composition – Fill the frame with your chosen textures to create bold imagery.
- Shoot in RAW format – This gives you greater editing flexibility later.
- Download editing apps – Snapseed, Lightroom and Photoshop Express have duotone filters built-in.
- Convert to black and white first – Then layer on your colors gently for stylish contrast.
- Enhance the drama – Use the editing tools to emphasize shadows, add vignettes and boost contrast.
With eye-catching subjects, a simple composition and some easy duotone editing, anyone can start producing gallery-worthy two tone photography with just their smartphone.
Conclusion
Experimenting with duotone photography is an exciting way to expand your skills as an image-maker. The striking high-contrast aesthetic can infuse life and artistry into all kinds of photos from landscapes to portraits. With digital editing tools so accessible now, it’s simple for any photographer to start enhancing their images with this colorful technique.
So whether you’re shooting with a top-notch DSLR or just your smartphone camera, embrace the creative possibilities of duo-toning. Dial in some beautiful, moody contrast to make your photographs stand out from the crowd.