How to Create Sepia Tones

Sepia tones are reddish brown tints applied over a monotone image to give it the appearance of age and antiquity. This can be achieved in Photoshop in two ways.

First Method is Simplest:

Make sure the image is in RGB Color Mode (Image > Mode > RGB Color). Then go to to Image > Adjust > Desaturate. This takes out all colour leaving only shades of gray like a black and white photo.

Then go to Image > Adjust > Variations. Select Midtones and click on the More Yellow and More Red options until you are satisfied with the result. Normally, this requires only one click each.

Second Method gives More Control:

Another method is via a duotone effect, by first changing the photo to Grayscale (Image> Mode> Grayscale). You will be asked whether to "Discard color information?". Click OK.

Next, convert the image to Duotone (Image> Mode> Duotone). In the dialogue box that comes up, first make sure the Type is set at Duotone. Then choose two colours.

Click in the top box and a Color Picker window opens. Pick an orangy colour. You have to give this a name like "orange". Next, click on the second box. A Custom Color window opens that is pre-set to Pantone. Click on the Picker Button on the right side to get back to your original Color Picker window. Select Black as the colour. Then name that colour "black".

Now return the image to RGB mode (Image> Mode> RGB Color). Then go to Image> Adjustments> Hue/Saturation and move the Saturation slider until you have the desired richness of the tone for the photo image.

Finally "Save As" a different file name than the original photo and you're done. Good Job!