How to Make a PDF Black and White on Mac (Free)
Convert a colour PDF to grayscale on Mac using Preview or FixMyPDF in Safari. Both free, both fast.
Mac has two free ways to make a PDF black and white: the built-in Preview app and FixMyPDF in Safari.
Method 1: Preview on Mac
Open the PDF in Preview. Go to File → Print (Cmd+P). Click the PDF dropdown in the bottom left. Select "Open PDF in Preview". In the new window: File → Export. Change the Quartz Filter to "Gray Tone". Save. This built-in method works but quality varies.
Method 2: FixMyPDF in Safari
Open Safari. Go to fixmypdf.in/tools/grayscale-pdf. Upload. Convert. Download. More reliable than the Preview Quartz filter for consistent grayscale output.
Which Method Is Better
FixMyPDF is more consistent and predictable. Preview's Gray Tone filter sometimes produces unexpected results with PDFs containing transparency or complex vector graphics.
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