Monochrome facts for kids
Monochrome means "one color." The word comes from two Greek words: mono, which means "one," and chroma, which means "color." So, if something is monochromatic, it only uses a single color.
In physics, the term monochrome describes electromagnetic radiation, like light, that has only one specific wavelength. Think of it as light that is all the same "type" or "color."
When we talk about images, monochrome usually means black-and-white or grayscale. Grayscale images use different shades of gray between black and white. But monochrome can also mean images that use only two colors, like green-and-white or green-and-black.
In computing, "monochrome" can have two meanings:
- It might mean a display that shows only one color, which is either "on" or "off." If it also shows different shades of that color, it's called grayscale.
- A monochrome monitor can only show a single color. Common colors for these old monitors were green, amber, red, or white. These monitors could often show different shades of that single color.
Contents
What is Monochrome?
Monochrome is a way of showing things using only one color. This single color can have many different shades, from very dark to very light. For example, a black-and-white photo is monochrome because it only uses black, white, and all the shades of gray in between.
Monochrome in Art and Photography
Artists and photographers often use monochrome to create a special mood or focus attention. Without many colors, viewers concentrate more on shapes, textures, and light. This can make an image feel timeless or dramatic. Many famous old photographs are monochrome because color photography was not invented yet.
Monochrome in Technology
Early computers and devices often used monochrome screens. These screens were simpler and cheaper to make. They displayed text and simple graphics in one color, like green on a black background. Even today, some devices, like certain digital audio players or night-vision devices, use monochrome displays because they are efficient or help with specific tasks.
Images for kids
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Black-and-white monochrome: the Eiffel Tower during the 1889 Exposition Universelle
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Color monochrome: night-vision devices usually produce monochrome images, typically in shades of green.
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A Philips branded digital audio player with a monochrome display with green backlit, common on older such devices including mobile phones and handheld game systems
See also
In Spanish: Monocromo para niños
