Timeless black and white
Black-and-white photos draw attention to shape, light and expression instead of colour. Grayscale versions are also useful for printing on a laser printer, for documents and for forms that ask for a monochrome image.
The converter uses perceptual luminance weights, so greens don't turn muddy and skies don't wash out. Use the strength slider for a partially desaturated, muted look, and open More adjustments to add contrast for a punchier result.
How to make a photo black and white
- 1
Open the photo
Choose, drag in or paste an image.
- 2
Set the strength
100% is fully black and white; lower values keep a hint of colour.
- 3
Fine-tune
Add contrast or brightness under More adjustments.
- 4
Download
Save at full resolution in the original format.
Key features
Natural tones
Luminance-based conversion that matches how we perceive brightness.
Partial desaturation
Create muted, vintage-style colours.
Contrast and brightness
Finish the look without another app.
Private
No upload, no account.
Common uses
- Portraits and street photos: Give pictures a classic, timeless feel.
- Printing: Preview and prepare images for black-and-white printers.
- Documents and forms: Supply a grayscale copy when a form requests it.
Tips and good to know
- A little extra contrast (+15 to +30) often makes black-and-white photos look richer.
- Scanned documents look cleanest in grayscale with raised contrast — then convert them to PDF.