Convert PDF to B&W

[Angelsix]

Can I use PDF-XChange Editor to convert a colored or grayscale document to B&W? If so, how?

[Willy Van Nuffel]

- open your PDF in PDF-XChange Editor
- click File > Print
- destination printer = PDF-XChange Lite or PDF-XChange Standard
- click More...
- Color Override: Monochrome
- click OK
- click Print

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Thanks Willy!

[andreas_schwarz]

I'm searching for an easier way, which also preserve the OCR results. I've many hundred of scanned documents (pdf)
and want to convert them to grayscale or bw using "PDF Tools". I'm using "Optimize PDF", but there is no option to convert
color images to grayscale/bw. If I've missed something?

-asc

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

Hello Andreas,
Currently we have a option to convert a single image at a time (Select image with Edit tool > Right click > recompress image) and have an active feature request to implement a "bulk" recompress all images function. We do not have a timeline on this, but If you are interested, I will certainly raise the priority on it. for reference, the ticket number is below, you can ask any member of our support team for an update on the progress.

#4415: Recompress Multiple Images

Currently the most recent action is that the ticket was assigned a work item number, this likely means the dev team has accepted it and is looking at implementation methods.

[andreas_schwarz]

Hello Daniel, Tracker Support,

in the last weeks I made several tests to find out the best compromise between a good quality and a lower document size. I got the best results, when using a high DPI color scan and perform the "recompress image" function to recompress to dithered BW. Unfortunately, without a batched processing it's not feasible to convert many hundred (maybe more than thousand) of scanned documents. So, please increase the priority (bulk processing for all images and integration in the PDF Tools). Thx.

-asc

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

Hello again Andreas,

I have just recently increased the priority on this due to increased user demand, so I hope it helps! As per usual I still cannot provide a specific timeline, however I can say that the Dev team is working on it.

Kind regards,

[andreas_schwarz]

I just found an acceptable way with "PDF Tools" for my task. My scanned documents (already PDF) contain one image per page, so it's possible to extract the images via "export PDF to images" function and create new PDF file by import them (Create PDF from images). When importing (create PDF), an image conversion is possible, so I can convert to dithered BW/MONO. Better than manually processing, most of my documents are singe-sided.

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

Hi Andreas,

Glad to hear you have found a workaround for the time being! Hopefully we can bring the bulk handling feature in the near future so you wont need the extra steps.

Have an excellent day!

[Angelsix]

I'm echoing the request for an easy way to convert documents, and selected pages, to different color (B&W / grayscale) and also to include easily converting DPI at the same time.

[andreas_schwarz]

The new Version of PDF Tools provides a "Convert Colors" function/module, the conversion includes
the whole document. Looks promising.

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi all,

Thanks for that Andreas

The Editor also includes this feature, under the Convert tab:

Cheers,

[Angelsix]

I appreciate Tracker adding this feature.

Personally, I found the window that opens when I click the "convert color" box to be fiendishly confusing. Eventually, I was successful in converting to grayscale.

My request is that, in addition to all those many options, there just be a couple of little buttons, one saying "Convert All to Grayscale" and the other saying "Convert All to B&W".

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

Hello Angelsix,

Thank you for the suggestion, I will put forward a request to offer some default settings configurations in this dialog to achieve those items. In the meantime, you can setup your own custom configurations and save them for future use from the settings drowdown:

I hope this helps!