How do I create a black and white image from a color file?

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Question: How do I create a black and white image from a color file?

Answer: You can configure the TIFF Image Printer to create black and white images with the steps outlined below.

How to do this:

  1. Open Devices and Printers (or Printers & Faxes on older operating systems).
  2. Right-click on the TIFF Image Printer, then click the Printer Properties item from the context menu.
  3. On the Advanced tab, click the Printing Defaults button in the lower left corner.
  4. In the TIFF Image Printer Printing Preferences dialog, click on the Paper/Quality tab, then select Color.


    Printer Preferences - Color Setting

  5. Click on the Save tab and select “Reduce to black and white” for Color Reduction.
    • You may also need to experiment with the dithering methods as the default of Halftone may not produce the image quality depending on the original color image. Floyd-Steinberg and Burkes are good dithering methods that work well for most images.


    Printing Preferences - Black and White Setting

  6. Click Apply and then Ok to save the changes.
  7. Back in TIFF Image Printer Properties dialog, click the General tab.
  8. Click the Preferences button at the bottom.
  9. On the TIFF Image Printer Printing Preferences dialog, click the Paper/Quality tab, then select Color.


    Printer Preferences - Color Setting

  10. Click on the Save tab and select “Reduce to black and white” for Color Reduction. If you made any changes to the dithering method in Step 5 above, make the same change here.


    Printing Preferences - Black and White Setting

  11. Click Apply and then Ok to save the changes.

Now all files printed to the TIFF Image Printer will create black and white TIFF image files.