FreePDF Editor
All tools

Grayscale

Make a PDF text and images grayscale

or drop a PDF here

No file selected

Files stay private. Automatically deleted after 2 hours.

Step by step

How To Convert a PDF to Grayscale

Turn a colour document into clean greyscale — text, pictures and all — with the page greying live in the preview as you choose.

  1. 1

    Upload your PDF

    Drop in a document and its first page appears with the greying already applied — even eight saturated colour bars arrive grey. The preview shows exactly what the saved file will look like. Files are deleted after 2 hours.

    The preview of a colour test chart already showing grey: the title, the caption “Eight saturated bars — every one should arrive grey.” and the bars themselves in tones of grey
  2. 2

    Tune the conversions (optional)

    More options folds out the switches: Text conversion — Grayscale, or Black for binarised, scan-crisp type. Image conversion — Grayscale, or None to keep photos and artwork in colour while the text still converts. Compress images is on by default and slims the result as it goes.

    More options expanded: Text conversion with Grayscale and Black, Image conversion with Grayscale and None, the Compress images checkbox ticked, and the Convert PDF to Grayscale button beside Fewer options
  3. 3

    Run it

    Press Convert PDF to Grayscale — the greyscale is baked into the file itself, so it stays grey in every viewer, printer and archive. The finished document comes back ready to download.

  • Live preview

    The page greys the moment a file loads — no run needed to check.

  • Text: grey or black

    Grayscale keeps the tones; Black binarises for the crispest scan-like type.

  • Images: grey or keep

    Grey the pictures too, or choose None and only the text converts.

  • Compress images

    On by default — the greyscale pass also slims the pictures as it goes.

  • Baked in, not a filter

    The output really is greyscale — every viewer shows it the same, black ink and all.

  • Private by default

    No account, no watermark — and every file is automatically deleted after 2 hours.

Grayscale — frequently asked questions

Does grayscale ruin the colour original?

No — the copy you download is grey; your upload keeps its colour. Images can stay in colour while only the text is converted, if you prefer.

Is Grayscale free?

Yes — Grayscale is free right here in your browser, with no watermark and no sign-up. Every tool on the site works the same way.

Do I need an account to use Grayscale?

No. Accounts are optional — they keep your credits, API keys and settings together. The tools work signed-out.

What happens to my file?

Every upload is stored under an unguessable id and deleted automatically after 2 hours. Nothing is listed, shared or emailed anywhere.

Can I run Grayscale from the API?

Yes — every tool has a REST endpoint. An API call for this tool costs 10 credits per file; browser use stays free. See the Plans & pricing page for plans and the API page for the endpoint list.

More answers on the Help page. Building with the API? Plans & pricing.