How to convert grayscale image file into b/w TIFF?

Some document types (scanned checks, documents, drafts etc.) should be stored in TIFF format as black-and-white 1 bit images. This will save your HDD and database space. Black-and-white TIFF images can also be faxed. TIFF format has special compression algorithms to store black-and-white images: CCITT Group 3 and CCITT Group 4.

To convert color or grayscale image files to black-and-white images with CCITT Group 4 compression:

• Download and install Image Converter Plus program
• Press 'Start" button, then select 'Run...' and press it
• Enter the following command line:

  ICPCL.exe –convertto tiff –source " C:\Source Images\*.*" –dest "C:\out\" dither:no -save_opt convert_subfolders:yes restore_subfolders:yes compression:CCITT_Fax

• Press 'OK' button
• A DOS mode window will open and the conversion process will start
• Converted files will be stored in 'C:\out' folder

To improve quality of black-and-white images you may use several special methods..

• Make use of binarization functions specially designed for conversion of low contrast black-and-white images:

  2tiff.exe s="C:\Source Images\*.*" d="C:\out" -sf -binarize1 -ct3

  2tiff.exe s="C:\Source Images\*.*" d="C:\out" -sf -binarize2 -ct3

• Make use of image dithering (improves image quality while increasing file size):

  ICPCL.exe –convertto tiff –source " C:\Source Images\*.*" –dest "C:\out\" -save_opt convert_subfolders:yes restore_subfolders:yes compression:CCITT_Fax4

If you do conversions often you may found it more convenient to make a conversion script as a BATCH-file.