Convert PDF to Grayscale
Remove all color from a PDF and keep the shades of gray. Useful for printing without color ink or for submissions that must be grayscale.
Pages are converted to images, so text can no longer be selected or searched.
How to use it
Choose your PDF
Drop it on the box or tap Choose PDF. It opens in your browser and is not uploaded.
Pick a quality
High quality works for most files. Use Print quality for small text or detailed images.
Convert and download
Your grayscale PDF downloads with the same page sizes as the original.
Questions
What does grayscale mean for a PDF?
Every color is replaced by a shade of gray with the same brightness. Photos and charts stay readable, but there is no color left.
Grayscale or black and white: which should I choose?
Choose grayscale for photos, charts and anything with shading. Choose black and white for text documents, forms and faxes where you want crisp black text on a clean white page. You can switch modes in the tool.
Will printing in grayscale save ink?
A grayscale file makes sure the printer uses only black ink, even if its driver ignores the grayscale setting. Many printers still use a little color ink for maintenance.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The PDF is read and converted by JavaScript in your browser. You can turn off your internet connection after the page loads and the tool still works.
Can I still select text afterward?
Not in the current version: each page is converted to a grayscale image. A mode that keeps text selectable is in progress.
More tools
PDF to Black and White
Pure black and white for printing and forms. Not gray.
Remove PDF Password
Unlock a PDF when you know its password. Keeps text, links and forms.
Flatten PDF
Lock form fields and annotations into the page.
Coming soon