How to Print PDFs in Black & White: A Quick Guide

PDFs are known for looking the same on all systems. But one thing you can easily change is turning a color PDF to black and white. To convert a PDF to black and white, you can use:

• Your computer's print dialog
• Mac Preview
• Smallpdf’s online PDF converter

This guide covers three proven methods to convert your color PDFs to black and white or grayscale—and why to do it—plus how to add color back into a black-and-white PDF with some PDF editing techniques.

Let's dive in.

Black & White vs. Grayscale: What's the Difference?

Black and white and grayscale aren't the same thing, even if they sound similar:

Black & White: Pure black or pure white—no shades, no in-between. Great for text-heavy docs or simple forms. Grayscale: Adds depth with shades of gray. Perfect for images, charts, and anything needing detail without full color.

Printing text or need sharp contrast? Go black and white.

Printing images or want to keep some detail? Grayscale's your best bet.

As you can see in the image, some of the lighter colored icons are interpreted as white when printing in pure black and white. (left: original, middle: grayscale, right: black & white)

As you'll see below, not all printer and export settings use these terms the same. So keep in mind these differences, but always test your options to get the results you're after.

Why Convert a PDF to Black and White

Converting a PDF to black and white (or grayscale) has a few advantages:

• Save on printer ink: Black-and-white ink is cheaper than color ink, helping you cut printing costs.
• Reduce file size: Converting a PDF to black and white can shrink the size of your document (an easier way to reduce file size is with a free Compress PDF tool).
• Improve readability: Printing in monochrome can make text-heavy PDFs easier to read and creates a clean, minimalistic look for reports or presentations.

How to Convert PDF to Black and White

Here are three reliable methods to convert your color PDFs to black and white or grayscale, depending on your operating system and preferences.

Method 1: Convert via Print to PDF (Windows & Mac)

The easiest way to convert PDFs to black and white is using your computer's built-in print dialog. This method works on both Windows and Mac. It takes about 30 seconds.

1. Open the PDF in your preferred web browser or PDF viewer. You can do this in two ways:

• Right-click on the PDF and select your browser of choice
• Drag your PDF into a new browser tab

2. Click the printer icon in the top-right of your screen, or press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac).

3. In the printer dropdown menu, select “Microsoft Print to PDF” (Windows) or “Save as PDF” (Mac).

4. Under Color options or Advanced Settings, select “Black & White” or “Grayscale.”

Note: Some basic printer settings only offer a Black & White option without a dedicated grayscale choice. In this case, the actual print setting typically works more like grayscale, and varying tones of gray will be present in your printed document.

5. Click “Print” and choose a new name and location to save your black and white PDF.

Of course if you're asking ‘why is my pdf printing in black and white?,’ this printer setting is the most likely cause. To switch it back to color, simply select “Color” in your color settings and you should be good to go.

Method 2: Convert on Mac with Preview

Mac users have a built-in advantage with Preview's Quartz Filter system. This method is completely free and works great for most conversion needs.

1. Open your PDF in Mac's Preview.
2. Go to “File” > “Export.”
3. In the dialog box, open the “Quartz Filter” dropdown.
4. Select “Black & White” or “Gray Tone” depending on your needs, then click “Save.”

Note: The comparison image at the top of this article was created using this process. There, you can see the drastic differences you can get by selecting the black & white versus grayscale filters. Experiment to see what works best for your particular document.

Method 3: Convert Online with Smallpdf

Need to convert PDFs on any device without installing software? Our online converter works from any browser and keeps your files secure.

1. Visit Smallpdf's PDF converter and upload your color PDF file.
2. Select the “Convert to Grayscale” option from the available tools.
3. Download your converted black and white PDF.

Security Note: All file uploads use TLS encryption, and we delete your files within one hour of processing for maximum privacy.

Can You Convert a Black & White PDF to Color?

It's not easy to recreate a black-and-white PDF in color, but there are a few things you can try.

Rescan the original

If you have the original source document in color, the easiest thing to do is to rescan the original in color.

Don't have a scanner at home? No problem. You can use Smallpdf's free PDF Scanner for your phone. It's free to download and use for both iOS and Android.

Use Mac's Quartz filters

Another free option for Mac users is to export your PDF with a Quartz filter. Follow the same steps above for how to make a PDF black and white on Mac, but try other filters, like the “Blue Tone” or “Sepia Tone.” This won't give you a full range of colors, but can add a little life to an otherwise dull grayscale PDF.

Enhance your PDFs with Smallpdf

You can also add color to a black-and-white PDF using the Edit and Annotate tools built into Smallpdf. It won't magically convert a black-and-white PDF to color, but it does give you options to liven up monochrome PDFs.

You can do things like:

• Highlight titles or key information.
• Insert images and shapes.
• Add color watermarks.
• Draw with the pencil tool.

All of these can be done in pretty much any color you want, making your grayscale PDFs much more interesting to look at. And Smallpdf's tools are free to try, with no download or sign up needed.

Start Your Free Trial to Access All Smallpdf Tools

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FAQs: Converting PDFs to Black and White

How do I make sure my PDF prints in black and white?

Check your printer settings and select “Black & White” or “Grayscale” in the color options before printing.

Can I convert a black and white PDF back to color?

No, once a PDF is converted to black and white, the original color information is lost and cannot be restored.

What's the difference between grayscale and pure black and white?

Grayscale includes shades of gray for better image detail, while pure black and white uses only solid black or white pixels.

Is it safe to use online PDF converters?

Yes, when using trusted services like Smallpdf that use TLS encryption and automatically delete files after processing for your privacy.

Have a PDF that could use some color?