quick way... desaturate IMAGE-->ADJUST-->DESATURATE or IMAGE --> MODE --> GRAYSCALE both work somewhat the same (b/w) :) retrocity

retrocity Big BIG BIG!!! 10x...

If you want to go beyond just black and white and add the color to it like you have in the photo above, after you have gotten it to black and white using the methods mentioned (and of those two the first one will give you better results) Do this: IMAGE-->ADJUST-->HUE/SATURATION Check the COLORIZE BOX (and preview) and start moving the sliders around until you get what you want. You could also make the image a duotone and add the color that way but this way will be easier.

keep in mind, the greyscale in photoshop is 8bit, only 256 shades of grey (unless they changed it in PS7). Odd when a program like zbrush uses 64000 shades of grey.... i think the desaturate is the best bet.

And for something of a grand finale... Erm. Well. Not quite that maybe. But I am used to make black and white stuff, and everybody has got a bloody color camera these days. The thing with just switching from rgb to grayscale, is that, for instance, red colors translate to rather dark grey colors. Well, whatever (don't have my color theory present to back anything up), but the results can be far better with this method. Which I read somewere, so the credit is totally not mine. But when I get photo's (digital or analog) I start with the rgb or cmyk version. AND CHANGE IT TO LAB. That's in there too you know. Then you have 3 channels. One is greyscale (I have a localized version, this is a guess) and the other two are called a and b. Contain some kind of color information, hue and saturation I presume. But that greyscale channel, most of the time, is really a lot clearer, sharper and has a better representation in black and white, then your average transition from rgb to grey. Trashing those a and b channels and changing the mode to greyscale and you're ready. Really, everybody should try it. Then there is the duotone mode to colorize your grey photo. I use it to do nice stuff when printing in two colors (pantone and all), but the nice thing is in the curves you can use to spread the color tint over the grey shades. Once I got this tip (the LAB thing) I never changed to B/W without, so maybe it is of help to more people.

I just tried the LAB thing and it does make a worthwhile difference. It may vary from image to image but it's good to have the option - thank you! On PS7 there are 4 channels, deleting the a+b will remove all but the grey. Cool!