Convert Image to Black and White

Turn any color photo into a stunning black and white image. Choose from multiple grayscale modes, adjust contrast and brightness for the perfect look. Free online tool with instant download, no signup required.


Select an image to convert to black and white

How to Convert Images to Black and White

  1. Click "Select Image" and choose a photo from your device
  2. Choose a grayscale conversion mode for different tonal effects
  3. Adjust contrast and brightness to fine-tune the look
  4. Try quick styles for instant professional results
  5. Click "Download Image" to save your black and white photo

Key Features

Multiple Conversion Modes

Choose from four grayscale algorithms: standard Grayscale, Luminosity (preserves perceived brightness), Average, and Desaturate. Each creates a different tonal result.

Contrast & Brightness

Fine-tune your black and white image with adjustable contrast and brightness sliders. Create dramatic high-contrast looks or soft, faded aesthetics.

Quick Styles

One-click presets for popular black and white looks: Normal, High Contrast, Soft, and Dramatic. Perfect starting points for further customization.

100% Private

All processing happens in your browser. Your photos are never uploaded to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security.

Understanding Grayscale Modes

Grayscale (Recommended)

The standard grayscale conversion using weighted RGB values (0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B). This method produces natural-looking results that match how the human eye perceives brightness.

Luminosity

Uses the luminosity formula (0.21R + 0.72G + 0.07B) which emphasizes green tones. Great for landscapes and nature photos where green foliage should appear lighter.

Average

Simply averages all three color channels ((R+G+B)/3). Creates a balanced, neutral grayscale that treats all colors equally. Good for graphics and illustrations.

Desaturate

Uses the formula (max(R,G,B) + min(R,G,B))/2. Produces a softer, more muted grayscale. Works well for portraits and images with subtle color variations.

Popular Use Cases

Artistic Photography

Convert color photos to timeless black and white for a classic, artistic look. Black and white photography emphasizes composition, texture, and emotion over color.

Document Scanning

Convert scanned documents or forms to grayscale for smaller file sizes while maintaining readability. Essential for archiving and printing.

Print Projects

Prepare images for black and white printing in newspapers, books, or academic papers. Preview how your color photos will look in grayscale publications.

Social Media Aesthetic

Create a cohesive, minimalist feed with black and white photos. The monochrome look stands out in colorful social media feeds.

Design Mockups

Use grayscale images in wireframes and mockups to focus on layout without color distractions. Common practice in UI/UX design.

Frequently Asked Questions

For most photos, "Grayscale" produces the most natural results. Try "Luminosity" for landscapes, "Desaturate" for portraits, and "Average" for graphics. Experiment to see which looks best for your specific image.

No. The image resolution stays the same. We export as high-quality JPG (95%) which is virtually indistinguishable from lossless formats while keeping file sizes reasonable.

Grayscale includes all shades of gray from white to black. True "black and white" (1-bit) only has pure black and pure white pixels with no grays. This tool creates grayscale images, which is what most people mean when they say "black and white photos."

Yes! Use the "Reset Adjustments" button to return to the default grayscale conversion. Your original color image is preserved in memory until you close the tool, but the downloaded grayscale image cannot be converted back to color.