Using the data storage type defined on this page for raster images, read an image from a PPM file (binary P6 prefered).
(Read the definition of PPM file on Wikipedia.)

Task: Use write ppm file solution and grayscale image solution with this one in order to convert a color image to grayscale one.

img := ppm_read("lena50.ppm") ;   
x := img[4,4] ; get pixel(4,4)
y := img[24,24] ; get pixel(24,24)
msgbox % x.rgb() " " y.rgb()
img.write("lena50copy.ppm")
return
 
ppm_read(filename, ppmo=0) ; only ppm6 files supported 
{
if !ppmo  ; if image not already in memory, read from filename
  fileread, ppmo, % filename 
 
  index := 1  
  pos := 1
 
  loop, parse, ppmo, `n, `r
  {
    if (substr(A_LoopField, 1, 1) == "#")
      continue
loop, 
{ 
 if !pos := regexmatch(ppmo, "\d+", pixel, pos)
break
    bitmap%A_Index% := pixel
    if (index == 4)
      Break
    pos := regexmatch(ppmo, "\s", x, pos)
    index ++
}
  }
 
  type := bitmap1
  width := bitmap2
  height := bitmap3
  maxcolor := bitmap4
  bitmap := Bitmap(width, height, color(0,0,0))
  index := 1
  i := 1
  j := 1
 bits := pos 
loop % width * height 
  {
      bitmap[i, j, "r"]  := numget(ppmo, 3 * A_Index + bits, "uchar")
      bitmap[i, j, "g"]  := numget(ppmo, 3 * A_Index + bits + 1, "uchar")
      bitmap[i, j, "b"]  := numget(ppmo, 3 * A_Index + bits + 2, "uchar")
 
      if (j == width)
{
	j := 1
	i += 1
}
      else
	j++
}
 return bitmap  
  }
#include bitmap_storage.ahk ; from http://rosettacode.org/wiki/Basic_bitmap_storage/AutoHotkey