How to Change Image to Black and White in Adobe InDesign: 1-Min Guide

How to Change Image to Black and White in Adobe InDesign

Updated on:

April 6, 2026

By:

Madhav Bhandari

Use this interactive demo to learn how to convert an image to black and white in Adobe InDesign.

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Here’s a quick guide on how to change image to black and white in Adobe InDesign:

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To turn an image black and white in InDesign, select the image and click the 'Image grabber' (the circle icon in the center of the image).
In the Appearance section, click 'Opacity' to open the Opacity panel.
Once the panel opens, change the blending mode from Normal to 'Luminosity.'
Click outside the page to deselect everything, then click the image again to view its styles.
In the Appearance section, click 'Fill' to apply black color.‍
Click the black color and watch the image turn black and white in real time.

📌 Why this matters

Converting images to black and white gives you precise control over how photos integrate with your design's color scheme and branding. You can maintain visual consistency across publications while drawing attention to specific elements through selective color use.

This technique also helps you work within budget constraints for print projects, since black and white printing costs significantly less than full color. Beyond cost savings, monochrome images often create stronger emotional impact and timeless aesthetic appeal that colored photos can't achieve.

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