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3 Ways to Make an Image Black & White in Illustrator

3 Ways to Make an Image Black & White in Illustrator

There are three ways to make an image black and white in Illustrator. You can convert it to Grayscale, desaturate it, or adjust its color balance.

Each method is quick and easy, all you need to do is decide which one works best for you!

Here are three ways to make an image black and white in Adobe Illustrator.

 

 

 

How To Convert An Image to Grayscale In Illustrator

Press “V” to equip the Selection tool. Click on your image to select it and then click “Embed”. Finally, go to “Edit”, then “Edit Colors” and click on “Convert to Grayscale”.

Converting an image to Grayscale is the fastest way to make it black and white, but doesn’t grant much room for adjustment, compared to the other two methods.

In case you don’t see the “Embed” option in the menu, do this: 

Click on “Window” in the main menu and then select “Links.” Now under the “Links” tab, make sure to open up the hamburger menu (located in the top right corner of the Links Windows). 

Now, click on “Embed Image(s)” to embed the image. After that, when you click on “Edit” in the main menu, choose “Edit Colors” and then click on “Convert to Grayscale” to make your image black & white. 

 

How To Convert An Image to Grayscale In Illustrator – Step-by-step Guide

 

Step 1:

Place your image. Click on “File” on the top menu, then “Place”, or use the shortcut “Shift+COMMAND+P” (MAC) “Shift+Ctrl+P” (Windows).. Next, select your image and click “Place”.

How To Convert An Image to Grayscale In Illustrator Step 1

Step 2:

Find and equip the Selection tool. Look for and select the Selection tool, located on the toolbar on the left side of your screen. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “V” to quick-select the tool.

How To Convert An Image to Grayscale In Illustrator Step 2

Step 3:

Select your image. Click on your image to select it. A highlighted border should appear around it, as well as in an ‘X’ shape across the image.

How To Convert An Image to Grayscale In Illustrator Step 3

Step 4:

Embed your image. Click the “Embed” button located on the menu at the top of your screen. This will open the “Photoshop Import Options” window. If your image is already embedded, this button will read “Unembed” and no action needs to be taken. If you don’t have the embed button in your toolbar, you can do this buy clicking on “File” in the main menu, then select “Links”, then open op the hamburger menu in the top right corner of the “Links” window and then select “Embed Image(s) there. 

How To Convert An Image to Grayscale In Illustrator Step 4

 

Step 5:

Convert the image to Grayscale. On the taskbar at the top of the screen, go to “Edit”, then “Edit Colors” and click on “Convert to Grayscale”. This will convert all the colors in your image to shades of black and white.

How To Convert An Image to Grayscale In Illustrator Step 5

 

 

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator

Press “V” to equip the Selection tool. Click on your image to select it then click “Embed”.  Go to “Edit”, then “Edit Colors” and click on “Saturate…”. Select the preview box, then adjust the “Intensity” slider. Finally, click “OK”.

This method lets you control the intensity of the colors in your image via a simple slider and gives you more control over your colors than simply converting them to Grayscale.

 

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator – Step-by-step guide

 

Step 1:

Place your image. Click on “File” on the top menu, then “Place”, or use the shortcut “Shift+COMMAND+P” (MAC) “Shift+Ctrl+P” (Windows).. Next, select your image and click “Place”.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 1

Step 2:

Find and equip the Selection tool. Look for and select the Selection tool, located on the toolbar on the left side of your screen. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “V” to quick-select the tool.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 2

Step 3:

Select your image. With the Selection tool equipped, click on your image to select it. A highlighted border should appear around as well as in an ‘X’ shape across the image.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 3

Step 4:

Embed your image. Click the “Embed” button located on the menu at the top of your screen. This will open the “Photoshop Import Options” window. If your image is already embedded, this button will read “Unembed” and no action needs to be taken.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 4

Step 5:

Open the saturation menu. On the taskbar at the top of the screen, go to “Edit”, then “Edit Colors” and click on “Saturate…”.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 5

Step 6:

Select preview box. Make sure the Preview option is selected.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 6

Step 7:

Adjust the intensity slider. Adjust the slider labeled “Intensity” to change the saturation of the colors in your image.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 7

Step 8:

Click on “OK”. When you’re satisfied with the saturation of the colors in your image.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 8

 

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance

Press “V” to equip the Selection tool. Click on your image to select it then click “Embed”. Go to “Edit”, then “Edit Colors” and click on “Adjust Color Balance…”. Set “Grayscale” as your color mode. Select the preview box, then adjust the “Black” slider. Finally, click “OK”.

This method is very similar to Desaturation, except it involves the altering of the levels of black and white in your Grayscale image and not the saturation of your colors.

 

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance: Step-by-step Guide

 

Step 1:

Place your image. Click on “File” on the top menu, then “Place”, or use the shortcut “Shift+COMMAND+P” (MAC) “Shift+Ctrl+P” (Windows).. Next, select your image and click “Place”.

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance Step 2

Step 2:

Find and equip the Selection tool. Look for and select the Selection tool, located on the toolbar on the left side of your screen. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “V” to quick-select the tool.

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance Step 2

Step 3:

Select your image. With the Selection tool equipped, click on your image to select it. A highlighted border should appear around as well as in an ‘X’ shape across the image.

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance Step 3

Step 4:

Embed your image. Click the “Embed” button located on the menu at the top of your screen. This will open the “Photoshop Import Options” window. If your image is already embedded, this button will read “Unembed” and no action needs to be taken.

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance Step 4

Step 5:

Open the Color Balance window. On the menu at the top of the screen, go to “Edit”, then “Edit Colors” and click on “Adjust Color Balance…”. A window labeled “Adjust Colors” should pop up on your screen.

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance Step 5

Step 6:

Convert your image to grayscale. Click on the dropdown menu labeled “Color Mode” and select “Grayscale”, then click the box labeled “Convert”.

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance Step 6

Step 7:

Select the preview box. Click on the box labeled “Preview” so you can see the effect of your changes as you make them.

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance Step 7

Step 8:

Adjust the slider. Move the slider labeled “Black” left or right to adjust the levels of black and white in your image.

How To Desaturate An Image In Illustrator Step 8

Step 9:

Click OK. Once you’ve adjusted your image to the desired level, click the “OK” button at the bottom of the Color Balance panel to finalize your changes.

How To Make An Image Black And White In Illustrator By Adjusting Its Color Balance Step 9