Guide
How to convert a PDF to black and white
Open Greyscale PDF, add your file and press Make greyscale. Every colour in the PDF is turned into a grey of the same lightness, and the text stays sharp and searchable. It runs in your browser, so the file is not uploaded.
Open Greyscale PDFStep by step
- Open Greyscale PDF. Go to the Greyscale PDF page on PlumPDF. No sign-up and nothing to install.
- Add your PDF. Drop one or more PDFs on the box, or click to browse. Up to 50 files of 100 MB each.
- Check the preview. You see your first page and roughly how it will look in grey.
- Convert and download. Press Make greyscale, then download the PDF. The file is saved with -grey added to its name.
Why do people want a black and white PDF?
The usual reasons are printing and rules. A colour document is easier on the eye and the budget when printed in grey, and some offices and courts ask for black and white submissions. Others just want a calmer, more formal look.
How is this different from printing in grey?
Some tools turn every page into a photo and then make that photo grey. The text becomes part of a picture, so you can no longer select or search it, and the file may grow. PlumPDF changes the colours themselves. Text stays real text, and the file stays about the same size, since photos are not saved again.
Dark colours stay dark and light colours stay light, because each grey has the same lightness as the colour it replaces.
What should I check before a big print job?
A few things can keep their colour: spot colours with complex ink definitions, a few JPEG 2000 images, and small images stored inside the page drawing itself. Look through the result before printing a large batch.
Colour ink savings are likely but not certain. A greyscale file asks the printer for no colour, and most printers then print with black ink alone. Some inkjets still mix in colour to make smooth greys, so choosing greyscale in the print dialog as well settles it.
What related tricks are there?
To print more on each sheet, follow the black and white copy with N-up PDF. To shrink a photo-heavy file, use Compress PDF, which has its own greyscale option for photos and scans.
Questions
Can I get the colour back afterwards?
No, grey cannot be turned back into the original colours. Your original file is not changed, so keep it.
Are links and bookmarks kept?
Yes. Fonts, links, bookmarks and form fields stay as they were. Only the colours change.
Is this the same as black and white with no grey at all?
No. The result uses shades of grey, as a greyscale photo does, not pure black and white. Text and lines print crisply, and photos keep their tones.
Can I convert many PDFs at once?
Yes, up to 50. Download them one by one or all together as a zip.
Will it save colour ink when I print?
Usually. A greyscale file asks the printer for no colour at all, so most printers print it with black ink alone. The saving depends on your printer and its settings, so try one page first if ink cost matters to you.
Tools in this guide
More guides
- How to prepare your photo, signature and documents for an online application
Get your photo, signature and certificates ready for an online application: right size in KB, one PDF under the limit, all in your browser.
- How to scan a paper document and email it
Turn paper into a clean PDF with your phone, shrink it to fit an email, and add a password if needed. Free, in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
- How to share a document safely
Remove names and numbers for good, clear hidden data, then lock the file with a password before you share it. Free, and nothing is uploaded.
- How to get a contract signed without printing it
Fill in a contract, add your signature, lock the entries, and later compare the returned copy for changes. Free, private, and in your browser.