What does PDF to Grayscale do?

It converts every page of your PDF from color to grayscale. All content — text, images, graphics — becomes black and white.

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. Conversion runs entirely in your browser. Your file stays on your device.

Is the output rasterized or vector?

The output is rasterized at 2x resolution (144 DPI). Text is rendered as images. This ensures consistent grayscale results regardless of the original content type.

Can I preview the grayscale result?

Yes. A live preview shows the grayscale version of each page before you apply.

Does it work with password-protected PDFs?

Yes. Enter the password when prompted. Decryption happens locally.

Can I convert multiple PDFs at once?

Yes. Batch mode processes all files with the same settings.

Will the file size change?

It depends on the original. Color-heavy PDFs will shrink. Text-heavy PDFs may stay similar or grow slightly due to rasterization.

PDF naar grijstinten

Converteer uw PDF naar zwart-wit.

1. Select PDF

Select a PDF file from your device. All processing happens locally in your browser.

2. Convert to grayscale

All pages are rendered in black and white. Great for printing.

3. Download

Get your grayscale PDF instantly.

About PDF to Grayscale

How Grayscale Conversion Works

The tool renders each page of your PDF to a canvas, converts every pixel from color to grayscale using luminance weighting, and rebuilds the pages into a new PDF. Text, images, graphics — everything on the page goes to black and white.

OxygenPDF shows a live preview of the grayscale result before you apply, so you can see exactly how your document will look. Processing runs entirely in your browser at 2x resolution for crisp output.

When Grayscale Makes Sense

Color is nice to have, but there are plenty of situations where you specifically need a black-and-white document.

Print Cost Savings

Color printing costs more per page. Converting to grayscale before printing can cut costs significantly on long documents.

Legal & Court Filings

Many courts require or prefer grayscale documents. Color exhibits may need a black-and-white version for the official record.

Smaller File Size

Grayscale images use less data than color. Converting a color-heavy PDF to grayscale can noticeably reduce file size.

Accessibility

Some readers find high-contrast grayscale easier to read than color, especially on e-ink displays or when printed.

How It Compares

Grayscale conversion is a niche feature. Most online tools don’t offer it at all.

Functie	OxygenPDF	Adobe Acrobat	Smallpdf
Full-page grayscale conversion
Live preview
Batch processing		Desktop only
No file upload required		Desktop only
Free to use

Your Browser Does the Work

Grayscale conversion happens in your browser. Pages are rendered to canvas, converted, and rebuilt into a PDF without leaving your machine. The output downloads directly.

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