Does KDP require grayscale images for black-and-white print books?

Yes. Amazon KDP specifies that interior images for B&W print books must be grayscale. Color images in a B&W print file can cause upload errors or unpredictable print output. Converting to grayscale before PDF export is the correct workflow.

Will converted images stay at 300 DPI for KDP print requirements?

Deliteful preserves pixel dimensions exactly. DPI is metadata embedded in the file — your existing DPI value is carried over with the file format. If your source image is 300 DPI, the converted grayscale image will also be 300 DPI.

Why use luminance conversion instead of just desaturating in Word or Google Docs?

Word and basic tools often use a flat RGB average for grayscale, which collapses similar-luminance colors — like red and green — into indistinguishable grays. Luminance conversion preserves tonal contrast, keeping charts, diagrams, and illustrated figures legible in print.

Does Deliteful support TIFF output for print workflows?

Not currently. Deliteful outputs in the same format as the input — PNG, JPEG, or WebP. For TIFF-required workflows, convert your images to PNG first, run grayscale conversion, then convert the PNG output to TIFF with a format conversion tool.

Convert eBook Interior Images to Grayscale for KDP Black-and-White Print

Amazon KDP requires that images in black-and-white print books be submitted as grayscale — color images in a B&W print interior are either rejected at upload or rendered unpredictably by the press. Deliteful converts PNG, JPEG, or WebP images to 8-bit grayscale, preserving original pixel dimensions and file format, so your interior images meet KDP spec without touching your source layout.

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Authors and ebook creators self-publishing B&W print books through KDP, IngramSpark, or similar POD platforms face a consistent formatting requirement: all interior images must be grayscale at 300 DPI minimum. When a manuscript is assembled with color screenshots, illustrations, or photos, each image must be converted before the final PDF is exported. Doing this in GIMP or Photoshop one image at a time is workable for a handful of images but becomes a real time sink for illustrated non-fiction, workbooks, or textbooks with 20–50 interior figures.

Deliteful uses luminance-weighted conversion, which is important for interior book images — a flat desaturation would cause colored chart lines, highlighted text screenshots, or illustrated diagrams to lose contrast and become hard to read in print. Converted files are returned at identical pixel dimensions, so they slot back into InDesign, Affinity Publisher, or Word layouts without any re-linking or rescaling. Note that Deliteful outputs PNG, JPEG, and WebP; if your workflow requires TIFF, use the PNG output as an intermediate.

How it works

1
Sign up free with Google
Create your Deliteful account in about 3 clicks — no credit card required.
2
Upload your interior images
Upload the PNG, JPEG, or WebP images from your book manuscript.
3
Convert to 8-bit grayscale
Deliteful applies luminance conversion, preserving dimensions and file format for layout compatibility.
4
Replace in layout and export
Download and swap converted images back into your layout before exporting the final print-ready PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Does KDP require grayscale images for black-and-white print books?: Yes. Amazon KDP specifies that interior images for B&W print books must be grayscale. Color images in a B&W print file can cause upload errors or unpredictable print output. Converting to grayscale before PDF export is the correct workflow.
Will converted images stay at 300 DPI for KDP print requirements?: Deliteful preserves pixel dimensions exactly. DPI is metadata embedded in the file — your existing DPI value is carried over with the file format. If your source image is 300 DPI, the converted grayscale image will also be 300 DPI.
Why use luminance conversion instead of just desaturating in Word or Google Docs?: Word and basic tools often use a flat RGB average for grayscale, which collapses similar-luminance colors — like red and green — into indistinguishable grays. Luminance conversion preserves tonal contrast, keeping charts, diagrams, and illustrated figures legible in print.
Does Deliteful support TIFF output for print workflows?: Not currently. Deliteful outputs in the same format as the input — PNG, JPEG, or WebP. For TIFF-required workflows, convert your images to PNG first, run grayscale conversion, then convert the PNG output to TIFF with a format conversion tool.

Create your free Deliteful account with Google and convert your book interior images to KDP-compliant grayscale before your next print upload.