Herramientas Web

PDF to grayscale

Remove the color from your PDF to print it in black and white, save ink, or send it with a uniform look. You can keep the text selectable or turn each page into an image.

Drop your file hereTap to choose your file

or click to choosePDF · up to 200 MB

Processed on your device: nothing is uploaded

Step by step

How to use it

  1. Drop your PDF into the box or select it from your device. If it has a password, we will ask for it.
  2. Choose “Grayscale” (all the tones) or “Black and white” (only black and white, ideal for text).
  3. Leave “Keep text” on so the text stays selectable and searchable, or choose “As image” if you need an identical result in any viewer.
  4. Compare the preview with the slider, select “Convert,” and download the PDF.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. The conversion happens inside your browser, on your own device. The PDF never leaves it and you do not need to sign up.

What is the difference between “Keep text” and “As image”?

With “Keep text,” the PDF keeps its original content (text, vectors, and fonts) and a filter that removes the color is added: the file weighs almost the same and the text can still be selected, copied, and searched. With “As image,” each page is drawn and saved as a grayscale picture: it looks the same in any viewer or printer, but the text is no longer selectable and the file can be larger.

When is pure black and white a good choice?

When the document is mostly text or line drawings: photocopies, forms, contracts, or scans. Every dot becomes black or white, with no grays, and the file is usually very small. Use the “Threshold” slider to decide how dark it gets: raise it if the text looks faint and lower it if the background looks stained. It is not a good idea for photos, because they lose their middle tones.

Will the result be bigger or smaller than the original?

With “Keep text,” it weighs practically the same. As an image, it depends on the resolution you choose: 150 DPI is enough to print an ordinary document; 300 DPI gives more detail but a much larger file. In the preview we show an estimate before you convert.

Can I convert a password-protected PDF?

If you know the password, yes: enter it when asked and it is only used on your device. In that case the result is created “As image” and without a password, because an encrypted file cannot be modified directly.

Are photos, stamps, and comments converted too?

Yes, everything you can see on the page: photos, charts, stamps, and signatures. With “Keep text,” colored comments and form fields may keep their color in some viewers; if you need everything gray without exceptions, choose “As image.”

Grayscale or black and white

A grayscale file keeps all the tones between black and white, so it works for documents with photos, charts, or shading. Pure black and white has only two values, which makes it ideal for text and floor plans and usually gives much smaller files.

Two ways to convert

  • Keep text: a layer that removes the color from everything you see is added. The original content is not touched, so you can still search and copy the text.
  • As image: each page is drawn at the resolution you choose and saved as an image. It is the most compatible method and the only one that allows pure black and white.

A practical case: printing a form in black and white

A form with a colored background, logos, and shaded fields uses a lot of ink when printed as it is. With “Keep text” and the grayscale option it still looks clean and the file weighs almost the same; if the document is mostly text and you want the least ink possible, choose “Black and white” and adjust the threshold until the lines look sharp. Before printing, check the preview with the slider to confirm that no data is lost.

Printing tips

  • For text documents, 150 DPI is enough and the file stays small.
  • If the result is too big, try Compress PDF.
  • Need a picture of each page? Use PDF to JPG.

Updated on September 29, 2026