How to Make a Video Black and White: Simple Methods for Every Platform

Why do you need to make a black-and-white video

There are several advantages to making a video black and white. Here are some of the main benefits:

• Emotional impact: Black-and-white videos generally evoke nostalgia, drama, and timelessness. Filmmakers and documentarians use black-and-white video for a particular effect.
• Focus on the subject: Because color is absent, the viewer is freed from any distraction from the color. The viewer focuses on the composition, contrasts, and details in the scene when all distractions are removed. This can be important when you want to highlight specific aspects of your video.
• Artistic edge: Black and white can be described as a style that can lift your video to an artistic level. It breaks the complicated visuals down and elevates the simplest of footage to an interesting visual element.
• Adaptable style: Black-and-white videos are adaptable from a music video to showcasing fashion to a documentary. They are usable for just about any genre.

How to make a video black and white online

CapCut Web: Most recommended

CapCut Web is a powerful, free AI video editor that allows you to easily make a video black and white. With its user-friendly interface, you can transform your videos into black-and-white masterpieces in just a few clicks. CapCut Web also offers advanced editing features, such as filters, background removal, and customizable templates, to enhance your video quality. Whether you're looking to add a cinematic touch or simply want to simplify your content, CapCut Web is the perfect tool for creating professional-quality black-and-white videos. Get started today and elevate your video content with ease!

Guide to creating a black and white video with CapCut Web

Want to give your videos a timeless, dramatic, or artistic touch? CapCut Web makes transforming your footage into stunning black and white simple and intuitive. This guide will walk you through the easy steps, from applying classic filters to fine-tuning adjustments, helping you achieve the perfect monochrome aesthetic for your projects.

STEP 1
1. Start your project

Begin your journey by first signing up for CapCut Web using the weblink provided above. Once you do that, head over to your dashboard section and select the "New video" option.

You will then be redirected to a different web page, where you will be required to upload the video that you want to turn into black and white footage, as well as get access to CapCut Web's advanced set of video editing tools.

STEP 2
1. Customize & turn your video black & white

Once you upload your desired video, you will be presented with CapCut Web's robust video editing timeline, so that you can tweak your video according to your requirements. Start by first scrubbing through the video timeline to add, delete, or crop certain parts of the video. Additionally, you can add any recorded audio, perform automatic splitting of scenes, and carry out a whole bunch of other functions.

Click on the "Filters" tab and then select the filter you want to apply to your video. Since we are creating a black and white video, it makes sense to pick a filter that helps to achieve that look, such as the "Tunnel" filter. Remember that your selected filter will only apply to the part of the video you have chosen. To apply the filter to the whole video, simply extend the filter duration on the timeline, using the alignment buttons.

In addition to playing with filters, you can also access other notable editing features, such as adding text and AI-generated captions, implementing effects and video transitions, adding audio or your brand logo, etc.

Apart from that, you can also explore the video editing options provided on the right-hand side of the screen, such as the ability to adjust video color balance, reduce image noise and add keyframes. On top of that, you can explore various "Smart tools" such as removing background, retouch, auto framing, etc., along with the option to add video animations, adjusting video speed, changing video background, and performing audio noise reduction.

STEP 3
1. Preview and export

Finally, if you are happy with the black and white video you just created with CapCut Web, you can then go ahead and click on "Export". You will be able to download your video in your desired export settings and format. Alternatively, you will also have the option to directly share the same on your social media channels, such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

Key features of CapCut Web for creating black and white videos

• Extensive effects, filters, and transitions library: Users have access to a vast collection of trendy effects, filters, and transitions to enhance the visual appeal and storytelling of their videos. These can be easily applied and adjusted to achieve desired moods and styles.
• Comprehensive audio editing: The platform provides a rich audio library with royalty-free music and sound effects. Users can also perform essential audio edits like adjusting volume, adding fade-in/fade-out effects, and utilizing background noise reduction.
• Multi-layer editing and keyframing: CapCut Web offers multi-layer editing, allowing users to stack video, audio, text, and effect tracks for more complex compositions. Keyframing further enables precise control over animations and effects over time.
• Real-time effect preview: Users can instantly visualize changes to black-and-white effects during the editing process without the need for time-consuming exports, significantly enhancing workflow efficiency and creative control.
• Direct social media integration and custom export: After editing, users can directly export their videos to popular social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. CapCut Web also offers customizable export settings for resolution (up to 4K), format (MP4/MOV), quality, and frame rate, ensuring optimal output for different needs.

VEED.IO

VEED.IO is a user-friendly online platform that makes it easy to convert your videos to black and white. It offers a simple, intuitive interface that allows you to apply a monochrome effect with just a few clicks. With its drag-and-drop functionality, transforming your video into a professional black-and-white version becomes a seamless process. In addition to the black-and-white filter, VEED.IO provides a range of editing tools like trimming, adding text, and adjusting audio, making it a comprehensive video editing solution.

Step-by-step guide to make a black and white video on VEED.IO

STEP 1
1. Upload your video

Start by clicking the "Upload a file" button on the VEED.IO dashboard. This will allow you to upload the video you want to edit. Simply drag and drop your video file, or import it via a link.

STEP 2
1. Access filters

On the left side of the editing interface, locate and click on the "Filters" option under the "Video" tab. This will open up various filter categories like Color Grading, Effects, etc.

STEP 3
1. Apply a filter

In the Color Grading section, you'll see several filters. Select the one you want to apply to your video. For a black-and-white effect, choose the "Clayton" filter. You can adjust the intensity if needed by dragging the slider.

STEP 4
1. Export the final video

When you are satisfied with your edits, click the "Export Video" button. Choose your desired video quality and download the final version. VEED.IO makes the process quick and easy, giving you a polished video ready for sharing.

How to make a black and white video on mobile (Android/iOS)

Canva app

The Canva app provides an intuitive platform to turn your videos into black-and-white works of art. The app has easy-to-use tools and offers an intuitive interface with accessible tools, so it makes it easy to add filters and customize your own content, even on mobile devices. Canva makes it easy for beginners and professionals to make fashionable black-and-white videos for social media. Here are the steps to add a monochrome effect to your videos with Canva app.

Steps to make a video black and white using Canva on a mobile phone

STEP 1
1. Open Canva and upload your video

Launch the Canva app and click on the + button at the bottom of the screen to start a new project. Select Video from the available options, then upload your video by dragging and dropping the file or selecting it from your device.

STEP 2
1. Apply the black and white filter

Once the video is loaded into the editor, select the video clip. Then, navigate to the Filters tab from the lower menu options. Choose the Mono filter from the list of available filters, which will instantly turn your video into black and white.

STEP 3
1. Save and export your video

After applying the filter, review your video. Once satisfied, click the Download button located at the top-right corner of the screen. Select your preferred file format and export the video, ready for sharing.

InShot app

InShot is another powerful mobile app that lets you convert videos to black and white with ease. Known for its simple editing tools, InShot allows users to apply various filters and fine-tune adjustments to get the perfect monochrome look. This app is ideal for users who want to quickly create black-and-white videos on the go, especially for platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Let's walk you through how to use InShot for a seamless black-and-white video transformation.

Quick steps to create a black and white video using InShot app

STEP 1
1. Open InShot and create a new video project

Launch the InShot app and tap the "Video" option in the "Create New" section. This will allow you to import a video from your device's gallery. Once the video is selected, it will open up in the editor, ready for editing.

STEP 2
1. Apply the black and white filter

To convert the video to black and white, tap the "Filter" icon at the bottom of the screen. This will open a selection of filters, from which you can choose the "Memo" filter, designed specifically to create a black and white effect. The filter will be applied instantly to the video.

STEP 3
1. Save and export the edited video

After the filter is applied, tap the checkmark to confirm the changes. You can then hit the export button located in the top-right corner of the screen, allowing you to save the video to your desired resolution and share it across your platforms.

How to make a video black and white on Windows & Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional editing application that provides advanced options to make videos black and white. This involves using the Lumetri Color panel and twiddling with saturation and color grading while providing easy control over the look of the video. Premiere Pro is highly used by filmmakers and content creators for top-notch, professional video editing. We're now going to show you how to use Premiere Pro's incredible tools, so you can easily make the footage black and white.

How to make a black and white video using Adobe Premiere Pro

STEP 1
1. Open the video and access the Lumetri color panel

Launch Adobe Premiere Pro and open the video you want to edit. From the top menu, navigate to Window and select Lumetri color to bring up the color adjustment panel.

STEP 2
1. Apply the black & white effect using saturation

In the Lumetri color panel, find the Creative tab. Then, locate the Saturation slider and drag it all the way to 0%. This will remove all colors from the video, converting it to black and white.

STEP 3
1. Adjust the video to your preference

Use the Exposure, Contrast and Blacks sliders in the Basic correction section to fine-tune the black-and-white look. Adjust these to achieve the desired visual appeal for your video, ensuring clarity and balance.

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is another highly regarded video editing software, known for its color grading and video effects. With DaVinci Resolve, turning your video black and white is a straightforward process using the Color panel to adjust the saturation levels. This tool offers detailed control over color correction and other visual elements, making it an excellent choice for professional editors. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect black-and-white video with DaVinci Resolve.

How to make a video black and white with DaVinci Resolve

STEP 1
1. Open your project in DaVinci Resolve

Launch DaVinci Resolve and open your project. You'll see your video timeline at the bottom, with the video playing on the preview window at the top. Navigate to the Color workspace by selecting the "Color" tab at the bottom.

STEP 2
1. Select Color wheel and adjust saturation

In the Color wheel workspace, you will see the saturation slider. Reduce the saturation to 0% to remove all colors, turning your video into black and white. This is shown in the second image.

STEP 3
1. Adjust the video settings (Optional)

If needed, you can further adjust the Exposure, Contrast, and Shadows to enhance the black and white effect. In the Primaries section, you can fine-tune these settings to get the perfect monochrome look for your video. This can be seen in the third image, where the video is fully black and white.

Bonus: Creative ideas for using black and white videos

Black and white videos are a powerful tool for enhancing the emotional impact of your content. How to make video black and white can open up creative possibilities, adding depth and timeless appeal to your videos. Here are some creative ideas to inspire your next project:

• Nostalgic storytelling: Using black and white can evoke a sense of nostalgia, perfect for telling stories set in the past. Whether you're sharing personal memories or fictional tales, this classic style enhances the emotional weight of your narrative.
• High-contrast visuals for drama: Black and white videos allow you to play with light and shadow in striking ways. High-contrast visuals are ideal for adding drama to scenes, emphasizing strong emotions, and creating a cinematic effect.
• Fashion and beauty showcases: In fashion and beauty videos, black and white can highlight textures, patterns, and lighting, making the details stand out more clearly. This minimalist approach directs attention to style and aesthetics, rather than the colors.
• Music videos with artistic appeal: Many music videos use black and white to create a surreal, artistic vibe. By removing color, you can focus more on the movement, rhythm, and emotion of the music, which enhances the visual connection with the audience.
• Documentary or interview style: For documentary-style videos or interviews, black and white can lend a serious, professional tone. It also helps to keep the focus on the subject matter, rather than being distracted by background colors, ensuring the message remains the focal point.
• Minimalist design for social media: On platforms like Instagram and TikTok, a sleek, black-and-white aesthetic can make your content stand out. The simplicity of the design is often eye-catching and can convey sophistication, making your video more engaging to your audience.

Conclusion

Throughout this article, we have highlighted various ways to make a video black and white, using various platforms such as CapCut Web and more. From using mobile apps to utilizing desktop software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and InShot app, we have discussed a few of the simple ways to create a timeless black and white effect. Whether you want to add some cinematic drama, nostalgia, or improve your social media content, CapCut Web allows you to do this in a fast and easy-to-use environment. Sign up for CapCut Web today to start creating amazing black and white videos!

FAQs

1
1. Can I adjust the contrast and brightness after making a video black and white?

Yes, you can make adjustments to the contrast and brightness even when you have applied a black and white filter to your video. This means that your video will maintain the desired clarity and overall feeling of the mood you want to portray. On CapCut Web, once you have made the video black and white, you can further use the "Adjust" tools to adjust brightness and contrast to make it just as you want while adding your own flair.

2
1. Can I apply a black-and-white effect to just a part of my video?

It is possible to apply the effect to parts of the video. You can mask or crop portions of the video to allow some parts of the video to remain in color, for instance. CapCut Web has tools for keyframing and applying effects selectively throughout the video timeline.

3
1. How does the black-and-white effect impact video file size and quality?

Applying a black-and-white effect may lower the file size to a degree as there is no color data, but it typically does not significantly lower video quality when completed. The export options in CapCut Web give you the opportunity to set a resolution and quality that can be adjusted so that, despite having made adjustments that may reduce the file size, you are still able to achieve high video quality.

4
1. How can I make my Instagram Reels black and white?

Creating black-and-white Instagram Reels is quick and easy. You can create black-and-white Instagram Reels quickly by adding black and white filters in video editing tools. CapCut Web has a variety of black-and-white filters that can be added. You simply export and share your video directly to Instagram without leaving the CapCut Web interface.