monochromatism
Seeing only grays
Monochromatism is the complete inability to perceive color, a rare form of color blindness in which the world appears only in shades of gray.
Someone with monochromatism sees like a black-and-white photograph.
The term also applies in optics and art to the use of a single color or wavelength: The artist's monochromatism gave her paintings an austere quality.
Tonal range, black to white
- monotoneSingle unvarying pitch
- tonalRelating to pitch
- valueImportance or price
- shadeDarkness from blocked light
tint · grisaille · chiaroscuro · ink wash · sumi-e · charcoal · graphite · sepia
Without color gradations
- grayscaleTonal range, black to white
- sepiaReddish-brown pigment
- darkroomFilm processing chamber
- filmMovie or coating
negative · print · exposure · contrast · tone · grain · dodge · burn
Impaired hue discrimination
- protanopiaInability to see red
- deuteranopiaInability to perceive green
- photophobiaAbnormal aversion to brightness
- nystagmusUncontrolled repetitive eye movement
visual acuity · retina · photoreceptors · cones · rods · genetics · hereditary · mutation
Single unvarying pitch
- minimalistOne favoring bare essentials
- cohesionTendency to bind together
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
- restraintControl over impulses
elegance · sophistication · palette · unity · harmony · branding · aesthetic · clean
grayscale
Tonal range, black to white
shade · tint · grisaille · chiaroscuro · ink wash · sumi-e · charcoal · graphite · sepia · underpainting
black-and-white
Without color gradations
film · negative · print · exposure · contrast · tone · grain · dodge · burn · Ansel Adams
colorblindness
Impaired hue discrimination
- protanopiaInability to see red
- deuteranopiaInability to perceive green
- photophobiaAbnormal aversion to brightness
nystagmus · visual acuity · retina · photoreceptors · cones · rods · genetics · hereditary · mutation · ophthalmology
monotone
Single unvarying pitch
- minimalistOne favoring bare essentials
- cohesionTendency to bind together
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
restraint · elegance · sophistication · palette · unity · harmony · branding · aesthetic · clean · understated
hue
Color's specific character
- valueImportance or price
- saturationState of complete permeation
- tintFaint color addition
shade · tone · lightness · darkness · luminance · intensity · brightness · gradation · spectrum · neutral
monochromatismpolychrome
Having multiple colors
multicolored · technicolor · variegated · chromatic · kaleidoscopic