Convert an image to grayscale in HTML/CSS

Question

Is there a simple way to display a color bitmap in grayscale with just HTML/CSS?

It doesn't need to be IE-compatible (and I imagine it won't be) -- if it works in FF3 and/or Sf3, that's good enough for me.

I know I can do it with both SVG and Canvas, but that seems like a lot of work right now.

Is there a truly lazy person's way to do this?

Answer 1

It's in fact easier to do it with IE if I remember correctly using a proprietary CSS property. Try this FILTER: Gray from http://www.ssi-developer.net/css/visual-filters.shtml

The method by Ax simply makes the image transparent and has a black background behind it. I'm sure you could argue this is grayscale.

Although you didn't want to use Javascript, I think you'll have to use it. You could also use a server side language to do it.

Answer 2

For grayscale as a percent in Firefox, use saturate filter instead: (search for 'saturate')

filter: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'><filter id='saturate'><feColorMatrix in='SourceGraphic' type='saturate' values='0.2' /></filter></svg>#saturate"