3 Easy and Free Ways to Convert Color Image to Black and White

Last Updated: 2024. 08. 23

Black and white photography is a great way to help viewers focus on various aspects of the picture without getting distracted from colors. It also can highlight a texture, focus on silhouettes, play with the contrasts between objects, add a light noise for retro mood. Black and White pictures have their own charm!

However, not everyone is a photographer to shot great black and white pictures but thankfully there are many photo editors available that help you turn a color image to black and white easily. Read on to learn different ways to change photo to black and white.

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Black And White Wedding Save The Date Slideshow Video
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Also Read: 5 Picture to Drawing Converters to Turn Images into Sketch Style Online in 1 Minute >

Method 1 Convert Color Image to Black and White Online

Looking for an online photo editor with B&W effect to turn your photo into black and white without any installation, FlexClip should be recommended. It provides strong functions that help you not just converting a color image into black and white, but also you can edit your picture with those powerful editing tool - adjust exposure, saturation, vignette, filters, overlays, and text, etc.

Convert Image to B&W

How to Convert Color Image to Black and White with FlexClip

Step 1
Go to the FlexClip's black and white filter tool, and upload the image your want to change it into B&W.
Convert Color Image to Black and White Online with FlexClip: Upload

Convert Color Image to Black and White Online with FlexClip: Upload

Step 2
Then you’ll be in to FlexClip's editing page, change the aspect ratio to make it fit your image, then click the Edit button on the top menu.
Convert Color Image to Black and White Online with FlexClip: Edit

Convert Color Image to Black and White Online with FlexClip: Edit

Step 3
Now, you’ll see the filter presets offers by FlexClip, simply choose the B&W filter to transform your color image into black and white. You can also try other filters to create more stunning effects.
Convert Color Image to Black and White Online with FlexClip: Filter

Convert Color Image to Black and White Online with FlexClip: Filter

Step 4
Once done, you can right-click on the scene in timeline and select Export Frame to save your black and white image directly. Or continue editing your picture using FlexClip’s powerful tools, such as AI image background remover, stroke effect tool, text editor, and more.
Convert Color Image to Black and White Online with FlexClip: Save

Convert Color Image to Black and White Online with FlexClip: Save

Bonus Tip: Convert Your Color Photo to Black and White Sketch with AI Magic

Besides adding a B&W filter to give your photo a black and white look, you can even try to convert your color photo to black and white sketch using FlexClip. It offers a powerful online image-to-image AI generator to convert your images into AI art in different styles, such as black and white sketch drawings, romantic oil paintings, cute 3D cartoon characters, and more. Give it a try now and see how this AI tool can elevate your visuals to the next level!

Convert Image to Sketch
Convert Color Image to Black and White Sketch with FlexClip

Convert Color Image to Black and White Sketch with FlexClip

Method 2 Make Image Black and White on Windows PC

If you want to make your images black and white on a Windows PC, it's very easy to do with the built in Photos app that comes with Windows. It offers several variations of black and white to choose from and quickly turn your image into B&W artwork.

How to Make Black and White Picture Using the Photos App

Step 1
Go to the picture you want to turn black and right-click on it, then click Open with and select Photos to open the photo in the Photos app.
Convert Color Image to Black and White Using Photos App: Open Image

Convert Color Image to Black and White Using Photos App: Open Image

Step 2
Then, your photo should be opened in Photos, click on the Edit Image button on the top menu.
Convert Color Image to Black and White Using Photos App: Edit Image

Convert Color Image to Black and White Using Photos App: Edit Image

Step 3
Go to the Filter tab and there you will see various preset filters in a panel. Scroll down to get the Black and White filters.
Convert Color Image to Black and White Using Photos App: B&W Filter

Convert Color Image to Black and White Using Photos App: B&W Filter

Step 4
There are four different filters to turn your picture to black and white - B&W, B&W Cool, B&W Warm, and B&W High Contrast. Try each one of them and select the one which makes your picture better.

Pro Tip: If you are not liking these preset B&W filters by the app, there is another way to make the pictures black and white. Instead of clicking on the Filter tab, go to the Adjustment tab and it will open the options to edit your picture - reduce the Saturation level to zero to make your photo black and white and then adjust the contrast, brightness, exposure, warmth, etc as per your own taste.

Make Black and White Picture Using the Photos App - Adjust

Make Black and White Picture Using the Photos App - Adjust

Method 3 Convert Images to Black and White on Mac

Every Mac is equipped with Preview, the default app to open and view your images. Do you know that the Preview app can also help you create dramatic black and white images. Check the steps below to learn how to convert color image to black and white using Preview app on Mac.

How to Turn Your Image to Black and White with Preview

Step 1
Open the photo you want to turn to black and white in Preview app.
Step 2
Pull down the Tools menu and choose Adjust Color to bring up the adjustment tool panel.
Step 3
Slide the Saturation all the way to the left to remove all color from the picture and turn it into black & white. (You can also try the Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, and Levels options to improve the look of the black and white image.)
Step 4
Click Save or Export the black and white images.

Turn Your Image to Black and White with Preview on Mac

Final Words

Above are the best 3 easy and free ways to convert color images into black and white we'd like to share with you. Have you found the one you like? Just try it right now to transform your favorite color image into a stunning B&W masterpiece.

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