To turn a photo black and white, drop it in and download the result. A slider lets you keep some color if you want a softer look. It runs in your browser, so your picture isn't uploaded.
Why convert a photo to black and white?
- A classic, timeless look for portraits and street shots.
- Print materials and documents that need to look consistent.
- Saving ink when printing.
- Rescuing an old or discolored scan by removing distracting color.
- Drawing attention to shape, texture, and contrast.
How to make a photo black and white
- Click Select File, or drag your image into the drop zone.
- Look at the preview. Drag the compare slider to see before and after. Lower the Intensity slider if you want to keep some of the original color.
- Click Download to save the black and white image.
How the conversion works
Each pixel's color becomes a brightness value using the weighting your eye is most sensitive to, with green counting most, then red, then blue. That keeps the picture looking natural instead of flat.
At 100 percent intensity you get pure gray with no tint. Lower values blend back some original color for a muted look. It's not a sepia or vintage filter, which adds a brown tone.
Good to know
- The change is permanent once you download, so keep your original if you might want the color version.
- PNG and WebP transparency is kept, and other pictures are saved as JPG.
- The file may be slightly smaller, but for a real reduction use Image Compressor.
- Crop or straighten first with Crop Image or Rotate Image.
For more on photo formats, see our image format guide.
Tips for better black and white photos
Photos with strong contrast, such as bright light against dark shadows, make the best black and white pictures. Photos where the colors differ but the brightness is similar can turn flat and gray, because color contrast disappears without the color.
If that happens, lower the Intensity a little so some color stays, or try a different photo. For a punchier look, edit the contrast in a photo editor after converting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a picture black and white online?
Upload it, leave Intensity at 100 percent, and download. There's no software to install.
Can I keep a little color?
Yes. Lower the Intensity slider to blend some of the original color back in.
Is this the same as a sepia filter?
No. It gives neutral gray tones with no color tint.
Does it work on PNG images with transparency?
Yes. Transparent areas stay transparent, and only the visible colors change.
Can I undo it later?
Not on the downloaded file, because the color is gone. Keep your original.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. It's processed in your browser and stays on your device.