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

Answer 1

As a complement to other's answers, it's possible to desaturate an image half the way on FF without SVG's matrix's headaches:

Where $v is between 0 and 1. It's equivalent to filter:grayscale(50%);.

Live example:

.desaturate {
    filter: url("#desaturate");
    -webkit-filter: grayscale(50%);
}
figcaption{
    background: rgba(55, 55, 136, 1);
    padding: 4px 98px 0 18px;
    color: white;
    display: inline-block;
    border-top-left-radius: 8px;
    border-top-right-radius: 100%;
    font-family: "Helvetica";
}

  
Original
  
  

  
Half grayed
  

Reference on MDN