(Redirected from Monochromatic)
'Monochrome' comes from the two
Greek words ''mono'' (μoνο, meaning "only" or "alone"), and ''chroma'' (χρωμα, meaning "color"). A 'monochromatic' object has a single
color.
In
physics, the word is used more generally to refer to
electromagnetic radiation of a single
wavelength. In the physical sense, no real source of electromagnetic radiation is purely monochromatic, since that would require a
wave of infinite duration. Even sources such as
lasers have some narrow range of wavelengths (known as the ''linewidth'' or
bandwidth of the source) within which they operate.
For 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 two colors, such as green-and-white or green-and-black. It may also refer to
sepia or
cyanotype images. In computing, monochrome has two meanings:
★ it may mean having only one color which is either on or off,
★ allowing shades of that color, although the latter is more correctly known as
grayscale.
A monochrome
computer display is able to display only a single color, often
green,
amber,
red or
white, and often also shades of that color.
The monochromatic scheme should be used with caution when designing a space. Certain monochromatic color concepts will appear rather monotonous, and some variety in the intensities, textures and forms should be used to give life to the interior.
See also
★
Halftone
★
Monochromacy
★
Selective color – a post-processing technique involving monochrome images.