1. IronPDF
  2. How-Tos
  3. Grayscale
How to Generate Grayscale PDF Files in C#

How to Generate PDF in Grayscale

Hairil Hasyimi Bin Omar
Hairil Hasyimi Bin Omar
Updated:

A grayscale PDF is a type of PDF document where all the colors and shades are represented using shades of gray instead of the full-color spectrum.

IronPDF offers the functionality to render PDF documents in grayscale instead of colors. Printing PDF documents in grayscale is cost-effective for large batch printing. Additionally, rendering in grayscale enhances readability, particularly when the original colors are excessively bright or vibrant. Furthermore, grayscale PDFs enjoy increased compatibility across a wide range of devices, software, and platforms, ensuring consistent viewing and printing experiences across different systems.

Nuget IconGet started making PDFs with NuGet now:

  1. Install IronPDF with NuGet Package Manager

    PM > Install-Package IronPdf

  2. Copy and run this code snippet.

    new ChromePdfRenderer { RenderingOptions = { GrayScale = true } }
    .RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com")
    .SaveAs("grayscale.pdf");

  3. Deploy to test on your live environment

    Start using IronPDF in your project today with a free trial
    arrow pointer

How to Generate Grayscale PDF in C#

  1. Download the IronPDF Library for Rendering Grayscale PDFs
  2. Instantiate the ChromePdfRenderer class
  3. Set the GrayScale property of RenderingOptions to true
  4. Access and render PDF document from a URL, HTML string, or file
  5. Export the grayscale PDF document to the desired location


Get started with IronPDF

Start using IronPDF in your project today with a free trial.

First Step:
green arrow pointer

Generate Grayscale PDF Example

To generate a grayscale PDF, you can set the GrayScale property of the RenderingOptions to true.

In the provided code snippet, we see that the grayscale feature is enabled after instantiating a ChromePdfRenderer. It is then used to render a web page using the RenderUrlAsPdf method. The code snippet also includes extracting only the first page of the rendered PDF and saving it locally.

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/how-to/color-grayscale-grayscale.cs
using IronPdf;

ChromePdfRenderer renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Set GrayScale to true
renderer.RenderingOptions.GrayScale = true;

PdfDocument pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://ironsoftware.com/");
pdf.CopyPage(0).SaveAs("test.pdf");
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Please noteThe current implementation of the Grayscale feature will turn the text in the rendered PDF document into an image, resulting in the ExtractAllImages method not outputting any text.

Currently, this functionality is only available when rendering PDFs. In the future, it would be beneficial to have the ability to convert existing PDF documents to grayscale.

Ready to see what else you can do? Check out our tutorial page here: Convert PDFs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a grayscale PDF document?

A grayscale PDF document is a type of PDF where all colors and shades are represented in shades of gray instead of the full-color spectrum. This can be beneficial for cost-effective printing and enhanced readability.

How can I generate a grayscale PDF using C#?

You can generate a grayscale PDF in C# by using the IronPDF library. First, download the library, then instantiate the ChromePdfRenderer class. Set the GrayScale property of RenderingOptions to true, and render the PDF document from a URL, HTML string, or file.

Why should I convert PDF documents to grayscale?

Converting PDF documents to grayscale can reduce printing costs for large batches, improve readability for documents with bright colors, and increase compatibility across various devices and platforms.

What are the steps to render a PDF in grayscale?

To render a PDF in grayscale, download IronPDF, instantiate the ChromePdfRenderer, set the GrayScale property in RenderingOptions to true, render the document, and save it to the desired location.

Can existing PDFs be converted to grayscale using this method?

Currently, the grayscale rendering feature in IronPDF is only available when creating new PDFs. There is no built-in functionality to convert existing PDF documents to grayscale at this time.

How does the grayscale feature affect text extraction in PDFs?

The grayscale feature in IronPDF converts text into images within the rendered PDF. As a result, the ExtractAllImages method will not output any text, as it treats the entire page as an image.

Is there a simple code example to create a grayscale PDF using IronPDF?

Yes, you can create a grayscale PDF in one line of code using IronPDF: new ChromePdfRenderer { RenderingOptions = { GrayScale = true } }.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com").SaveAs("grayscale.pdf");

Hairil Hasyimi Bin Omar
Hairil Hasyimi Bin Omar
  Chat with engineering team now
Software Engineer
Like all great engineers, Hairil is an avid learner. He’s refining his knowledge of C#, Python, and Java, using that knowledge to add value to team members across Iron Software. Hairil joined the Iron Software team from Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree ...Read More
Ready to Get Started?
Nuget Downloads 15,607,683 | Version: 2025.10 just released