To make the background black and white in Lightroom Mobile while keeping the subject in color, you need to use selective editing tools, specifically masking and desaturation. Here's how:
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Select and Mask the Subject (or the Background): Begin by using Lightroom Mobile's masking tools (found under the "Selective" or "Masking" icon – the icon looks like a circle with dots) to create a mask that isolates either the subject you want to keep in color, or the background you want to desaturate. You can use tools like "Select Subject," "Select Background," the brush tool, or radial/linear gradients to define your mask.
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Invert the Mask (if necessary): If you selected the subject, you'll need to invert the mask so the changes you make apply to the background instead. Look for an "Invert" option within the mask settings.
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Desaturate the Masked Area: Once the background (or the subject, if you didn't invert the mask) is selected, access the color adjustments within the mask settings. Slide the "Saturation" slider all the way to the left (to -100) to completely desaturate the selected area, turning it black and white.
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Fine-Tune the Mask: Pay attention to the edges of your mask. Use the "Refine" options (like feathering) to soften the transition between the colored subject and the black and white background for a more natural look.
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Adjust Lighting (Optional): Depending on the image, you might need to make further adjustments to the exposure, contrast, highlights, or shadows within the mask to achieve the desired effect.
Essentially, you're using a mask to isolate the background, then using the saturation slider within that mask to remove the color.
