This tool converts images to grayscale using perceptual luminance weights (30% red, 59% green, 11% blue) so skin tones and skies keep natural contrast. Brightness and contrast sliders help you finish the look.
How to make a photo black and white
- Choose or drop a colour photo. It turns black and white immediately.
- Adjust contrast (try +15) and brightness to taste.
- Download the result as JPG, PNG or WebP.
Grayscale vs pure black and white
Grayscale keeps 256 shades from black to white, which is what people usually mean by a black and white photo. A pure two-colour image (only black or white pixels) is used for stencils and line art; raise contrast to +80 or more to get close to that.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a scanned document to black and white?
Yes. Grayscale plus a high contrast (+40 to +60) makes text crisp and removes paper tint.
Updated October 2026 · Built and tested by Sharjeel Tahir · How our tools are tested