Reply #3: Quick and effective. [View All]

[SlackJawedYokel]

Open the file.(make sure its RGB)
Hit Ctrl+L(assuming Windows here) which brings up the Levels control window.
Just below the window that shows the histogram are three sliders, black, gray and white.
Slide the white slider closer to the middle to get rid of the gray and bring the black slider in a touch to darken up the blacks.
Use the middle(gray) slider to even out the tones.

This works for color pics, too.
I usually hit those with a little more saturation aftewards(Ctrl+U).

Good luck.
Cletus