Make a photo black and white
Convert a colour photo to black and white in one step, and adjust the contrast if it looks flat. Free, no sign-up, and your image never leaves your device.
How to use it
- Choose a photo.
- It turns black and white straight away. Raise the contrast if you want more punch.
- Download it.
How the conversion works
Each pixel is turned into a shade of grey using the standard weights for how bright red, green and blue look to the eye. Green counts most and blue least, so skin and skies look natural, not muddy.
Forms that accept black and white photos
Some Indian exam forms, such as NEET UG, accept a photo in colour or black and white. Passport and visa photos almost always need colour, so check the rules before you convert one.
FAQ
- Is greyscale the same as black and white?
- In everyday use, yes: a "black and white photo" is a greyscale photo with all the shades of grey in between. This tool makes greyscale, not pure two-tone black and white.
- Can I use a black and white passport photo?
- Usually not. The US, UK, Canada, Schengen countries and most others require a colour photo.
- Is my photo uploaded?
- No. The editing happens in your browser, so the photo never leaves your device and nothing is stored.
- Which files can I use?
- JPG, PNG, WebP and any other image your browser can open. You get a JPG back, or a PNG if you started with a PNG, so transparency is kept.
More free photo tools
Need a passport or visa photo at the exact official size? Pick your document or check a photo you already have.
Form asks for a white background and yours isn't? Our sister app changebg.app makes it white. Check the form's rules first: passport and visa photos must not have an edited background.