View source for Monochrome

{{Short description|Composed of one color}}
{{For|monovalent chromium|oxidation state#List of oxidation states of the elements}}
{{other uses}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2013}}
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| footer = Multiple examples of monochrome artworks throughout history: an [[Art of Ancient Egypt|Ancient Egyptian]] [[Egyptian faience|faience]] statuette of [[Isis]] and [[Horus]], 332–30 BC; a gold [[Tairona]] pendant, 10th–16th century; a [[Chinese art|Chinese]] carved red lacquer, late 14th century; and the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] [[Petit Trianon]] in [[Versailles]], France, by [[Ange-Jacques Gabriel]], 1764
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[[File:Eiffel tower at Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1889.jpg|thumb|Black-and-white monochrome: the [[Eiffel Tower]] during the [[Exposition Universelle (1889)|1889 Exposition Universelle]]]]
[[File:Afghan National Army commandos with the 1st Tolai, 6th Special Operations Kandak clear a compound during an operation in Nejrab district, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, Dec. 16, 2013 131216-A-CL980-198.jpg|thumb|Color monochrome: [[night-vision device]]s usually produce monochrome images, typically in shades of green.]]
[[File:Parrot EGA monochrome palette.png|thumb|right|A photograph of a [[macaw]] rendered with a monochrome palette of a limited number of shades]]
[[File:Mp3 player.jpg|thumb|A [[Philips]] branded [[digital audio player]] with a monochrome display and green backlight, common on older devices including mobile phones and handheld game systems]]
A '''monochrome'''<ref>{{etymology|grc|''{{wikt-lang|grc|μονόχρωμος}}'' ({{grc-transl|μονόχρωμος}})|having one color}}; {{etymology||''{{wikt-lang|grc|μόνος}}'' ({{grc-transl|μόνος}})|one||''{{wikt-lang|grc|χρῶμα}}'' ({{grc-transl|χρῶμα}})|color}}</ref> or '''monochromatic''' image, object or [[color scheme|palette]] is composed of one color (or [[lightness|values]] of one color).<ref>{{cite Merriam-Webster|monochrome|access-date=October 16, 2009}}</ref> Images using only [[Tint, shade and tone|shades]] of grey are called [[grayscale]] (typically digital) or [[Black and white|black-and-white]] (typically analog). In physics, '''[[Monochromatic radiation|monochromatic light]]<!-- Bold per MOS:BOLDSYN. -->''' refers to [[electromagnetic radiation]] that contains a narrow band of wavelengths, which is a distinct concept.
==Application==
Of an [[image]], the term monochrome is usually taken to mean the same as black and white or, more likely, [[grayscale]], but may also be used to refer to other combinations containing only tones of a single color, such as [[green]]-and-white or green-and-red. It may also refer to [[Sepia tone|sepia]] displaying tones from light tan to dark brown or [[cyanotype]] ("blueprint") images, and early photographic methods such as [[daguerreotype]]s, [[ambrotype]]s, and [[tintype]]s, each of which may be used to produce a monochromatic image.
In computing, monochrome has two meanings:
* it may mean having only one color which is either on or off (also known as a [[binary image]]),
* allowing shades of that color.
A [[Monochrome monitor|monochrome computer display]] is able to display only a single color, often green, [[Amber (color)|amber]], red or white, and often also shades of that color.
In film photography, monochrome is typically the use of black-and-white [[Photographic film|film]]. Originally, all photography was done [[monochrome photography|in monochrome]]. Although [[color photography]] was possible even in the late 19th century, easily used color films, such as [[Kodachrome]], were not available until the mid-1930s.
In [[digital photography]], monochrome images use only the data for brightness captured by the sensor, or by post-processing a color image to present only the perceived brightness by combining the values of multiple channels (usually red, blue, and green). The weighting of individual channels may be selected to achieve a desired artistic effect; if only the red channel is selected by the weighting then the effect will be similar to that of using a red filter on [[panchromatic film]]. If the red channel is eliminated and the green and blue combined then the effect will be similar to that of [[orthochromatic film]] or the use of a cyan filter on panchromatic film. The selection of weighting so provides a wide variety of artistic expression in the final monochrome image.
For production of an [[anaglyph image]] the original color [[Stereoscopy|stereogram]] source may first be reduced to monochrome in order to simplify the rendering of the image. This is sometimes required in cases where a color image would render in a confusing manner given the colors and patterns present in the source image and the selection filters used (typically [[red]] and its [[Complementary color|complement]], [[cyan]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/monochromatic |title=Monochromatic |work=Dictionary.com Unabridged |publisher=Random House, Inc. |access-date=March 23, 2013}}</ref>
==Color scheme==
{{see also|Color scheme}}
[[File:CPT-Websites-monochrome.svg|frame|Example of a monochromatic color scheme]]
[[File:Mono1.png|thumb|right|Monochromatic [[color gradient]] on [[color wheel]]]]
A monochromatic color scheme comprises ([[Tint, shade and tone|tones, tints, and shades]]) of a single [[hue]]. Tints are achieved by adding white, thereby increasing [[lightness]]; Shades are achieved by adding black, thereby decreasing lightness; Tones are achieved by adding gray, thereby decreasing [[colorfulness]].
Monochromatic color schemes provide opportunities in art and visual communications design as they allow for a greater range of contrasting tones that can be used to attract attention, create focus and support legibility.
The use of a monochromatic color provides a strong sense of visual cohesion and can help support communication objectives through the use of connotative color. The relative absence of hue contrast can be offset by variations in tone and the addition of texture.<ref>{{cite book|last1=O'Connor|first1=Z.|title=Colour Combination Techniques|date=2014|publisher=Design Research Associates|location=Sydney AUS}}</ref>
Monochromatic in science means consisting of a single wavelength of light or other radiation (lasers, for example, usually produce monochromatic light), or having or appearing to have only one color (in comparison to polychromatic). That means according to science the true monochromatic images can be strictly created only of shades of one color fading to black.<ref>{{Cite web|title = the definition of monochromatic|url = http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/monochromatic|website = Dictionary.com|access-date = 2016-01-17}}</ref>
However, monochromatic also has another meaning similar to “boring” or “colorless” which sometimes leads to creating a design composed from true monochromatic color shades (one hue fading to black), and the colors created from the one hue but faded to all wavelengths (to white). This is not monochromatic in the strictly scientific meaning of the word. In fact, monochrome in the art world can be as complicated or even more complicated than other polychromatic art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://perfectpicturelights.com/blog/the-absence-of-color-symbolism-of-black-and-white|title=The Absence of Color Symbolism of Black and White}}</ref>
==In physics==
{{main|Monochromatic radiation}}
In physics, [[Monochromatic radiation|monochromatic light]] is [[electromagnetic radiation]] of a single [[wavelength]]. While no source of electromagnetic radiation is purely monochromatic, in practice, it is usually used to describe very narrowband sources such as [[monochromator|monochromated]] or [[laser]] light. The degree of monochromaticity can be defined by the [[spectral linewidth]]). A device which isolates a narrow band of light from a broadband source is called a [[monochromator]].
==See also==
* [[Duotone]], the use of two ink colors in printing
* [[Halftone]], the use of black and white in a pattern that is [[color perception|perceived]] as shades of grey (may be extended also to color images)
* [[Monochromacy]], a type of [[color vision deficiency]]
* [[Monochromatic color]]
* [[Monochrome monitor]], used with computers
* [[Monochrome photography]], also known as black-and-white photography
* [[Monochrome painting]], a style of painting that uses a single color (excluding shades thereof)
* [[Monochrome printmaking]], printing styles that generate black-and-white images
* [[Polychrome]], of multiple colors, the opposite of monochrome
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Wiktionary inline|monochrome}}
{{color topics}}
[[Category:Color]]
[[Category:Color depths]]