%# Read an image file:

[X,map] = imread('an_image_file.some_extension');

%# Check what type of image it is and convert to grayscale:

if ~isempty(map)                %# It's an indexed image if map isn't empty
  grayImage = ind2gray(X,map);  %# Convert the indexed image to grayscale
elseif ndims(X) == 3            %# It's an RGB image if X is 3-D
  grayImage = rgb2gray(X);      %# Convert the RGB image to grayscale
else                            %# It's already a grayscale or binary image
  grayImage = X;
end

%# Convert to a binary image (if necessary):

if islogical(grayImage)         %# grayImage is already a binary image
  bwImage = grayImage;
else
  level = graythresh(grayImage);     %# Compute threshold
  bwImage = im2bw(grayImage,level);  %# Create binary image
end

%# Display image:

imshow(bwImage);

以上代码兼容各种图片格式。

加个效果对比：

处理前

处理后