Convert a PDF to black and white
Need a crisp black-and-white copy? This makes every page pure black and white, which also removes shadows and grey backgrounds from scans.
Nothing is uploaded. Your files stay private.
Popular uses
Opens the tool with the right settings already chosen.
How to make a PDF black and white
Three steps, about ten seconds.
- 01
Add your PDF
Drop it in the box, or tap to choose it.
- 02
Choose the look
Gray, keep text is best for most files. Black and white suits text documents and scans.
- 03
Download
Press Convert PDF to save the gray copy.
Pure black and white, like a photocopy
Every page is redrawn in just black and white. Grey shadows and tinted paper in scans drop out, so forms and letters look crisp and print cheaply.
Because pages become images, text can't be selected afterwards. To remove colour but keep text selectable, choose Gray, keep text.
For colour scans, black and white is often much smaller. Photos inside the document lose their shading, so use a gray option for those.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between black and white and grayscale?
Grayscale keeps shades of grey. Black and white keeps only pure black and white, like a photocopy.
How do I make a PDF black and white?
Drop the PDF in, choose Black and white or a gray option, and download.
Will text stay selectable?
With Gray, keep text, yes. The other two options turn pages into images.
Does it make the file smaller?
Gray, keep text keeps the size about the same. Black and white is often smaller for colour scans. To shrink the file further, use Compress PDF.