Grayscale
Convert PDF text and images to grayscale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why convert a color PDF to black & white or grayscale?
Grayscale conversion saves expensive color printer ink/toner, produces cleaner black-and-white photocopies, and often reduces PDF file size by stripping unnecessary color channel metadata.
Will converting to grayscale make light text unreadable?
PDFtiny utilizes balanced luminosity conversion formulas (0.299 R + 0.587 G + 0.114 B) to ensure contrast remains readable across colored headlines, badges, and chart legends.
Are vector lines and font characters converted too?
Yes, both vector elements (lines, shapes, text glyphs) and raster photographic images are mapped into the DeviceGray color space.
Can I convert back to color later?
Grayscale mapping permanently discards color chrominance data in the output file, so always keep your original color PDF backed up.