The document explains the differences between monochrome and grayscale in graphic design and printing, highlighting that monochrome can be any single color while grayscale strictly refers to shades of gray. It provides guidance on how to convert PDFs into grayscale and monochrome using various tools, including online converters and applications like Paint, PowerPoint, and Photoshop. The text also encourages readers to subscribe for updates and offers additional resources and tools for further assistance.

1. How to make your
PDF into
monochrome

2. 2
What is the difference?
When you’re a graphic designer, there’s a tendency
to be obsessive-compulsive about colors and how to
turn a design from gray to monochrome. But to every
average joe, both may seem the same. What is the
difference between the two anyway and why is it so
important to do the right procedure?

3. 3
Monochrome V.S. Gray
When you look for the term monochrome in Google,
you will probably end up seeing a noun that is
defined as a “black and white” photo in varying tones
of one color. Doesn’t quite help you, doesn’t it?
Because of our understanding, it's pretty much the
same as grayscale which is defined in Google as a
noun that means “gray shades from white to black.”

4. In Printing
The difference here lies in the application. In printing,
monochrome is said to be a combination of colors to
produce blacks and whites while grayscale uses blank
ink only. In photography, grayscale is an accurate term
for black and white, portraying shades of gray from
black to white while monochrome means “single color”
therefore defined as a photograph that consists of only
one color in its brightest and darkest hues.
4

5. What Color?
5
Grayscale images can be called monochrome
however not all monochrome images can be
declared grayscale. Confused? To further explain,
the difference can also depend on the color - where
monochrome doesn’t have to depend entirely on
black and white, rather can be in different lightness
or darkness of red or any other color. Make sense
now?

6. TRIVIA
Did you know that the term
monochrome actually came from
the Greeks in the term called
monochromos – literally meaning
“having one color.”
6

7. To Convert PDF into
Grayscale

8. “To make your PDF into grayscale, you can use PDF editors
and converters like DeftPDF. With one simple click, you can
turn any PDF into grayscale.
Just go to the website, upload the PDF file, and click
“convert.” Once the processing is complete, download the
new PDF that is in grayscale.
8

9. To Convert your PDF
into monochrome
9

10. “To turn your PDF into monochrome, you can convert your
PDF into an image file first. You can use DeftPDF’s PDF to
JPEG converter online.
Then once an image file is available, you can convert the
new file into monochrome using simple applications like
Paint, which is a default program in Windows.
10

11. Using Paint to convert
image to monochrome
Step one: Open your
image in Paint
Step two: Click “save as”
then on the file type,
select “monochrome”
Step three: Click save.
You will notice that the
output is blacker and
whiter and doesn’t quite
show gray.
11

12. “
12
Now if you would like to use
another color, let’s say the color
blue, then you will need to use
applications like PPT or
photoshop. Let’s start with
PowerPoint.

13. “
13
Monochrome in PPT
First Insert the image in the PPT program

14. “
14
Monochrome in PPT
Second
Click the image and select the “format” tab. Then click Color.
Choose a recolor (which is already in preset) and modify the
brightness if needed.

15. “
15
Monochrome in PPT
Third
Save the slide as JPEG or any other image format or
you can also directly save it as a PDF.

16. Using
PhotoshopThis is also preferred by most artists due to the fact that they can pick and
modify specific colors that are according to their Pantone, edit it further, and
remove other excess colors. If you're in the printing industry, professional
software like this is needed to ensure that ink used will depend only on one
color. You can also use Adobe Illustrator or InDesign.
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17. “Monochrome in Photoshop
17
1 2 3
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18. “Monochrome in Photoshop
18
2
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19. “Monochrome in Photoshop
19
3
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20. “Monochrome in Photoshop
2020
A dialogue window will appear.
Click “monochrome” from the
type and modify the color by
selecting a preset from the or
picking a color. Once you're done
with the color selection, simply
save directly to PDF.

21. Have other needs? Look
through our free tools in
our homepage or look
into our blog for more
details!
DeftPDF
online

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