How to Change a Picture to Black and White in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word 2010 may not be considered a graphic design program, but it does have a set of tools to change pictures embedded in Word documents. Hidden away on a tab that only appears when images are present in a Word document are options to change pictures from full color into black and white. Whether you choose this option as a way to save ink color costs or for other reasons, Word removes color from images in a few clicks.

Instructions

1. Open a new or existing Microsoft Word 2010 document. If the picture you want to alter is not already embedded in the file, click the “Insert” tab, and then click the “Picture” button.

2. Browse to the color picture you want to change to black and white, and double-click the name of the image in the window. The picture is added to the Word page, along with a new pink tab at the top of the screen.

3. Click to select the embedded picture if it isn't already selected, and click the pink “Picture Tools” tab. Click the “Recolor” button on the left side of the ribbon below the tab.

4. Click the “Black and White” option. The image is changed to black and white. Save your document.

Tips & Warnings

• Digital designers who change picture color sometimes refer to “grayscale” as black and white and vice versa, although the grayscale image does have gray color. Word 2010 offers this option too; it’s right above the “Black and White” option.

References

• Microsoft Office Online: Change the Color or Transparency, or Recolor a Picture

Resources

• Microsoft Office Online: Getting Started with Word 2010