blackandwhite

Black and white describes a color scheme composed of black, white, and the grays between. It is used in art, photography, film, and design to convey contrast, texture, and composition without relying on color information. The approach emphasizes light, shadow, shape, and tonal variation, allowing viewers to focus on form and detail.

Historically, black-and-white imagery was the standard before color technologies became widespread. Early photography and cinema relied on grayscale tonality, where lighting and contrast shaped mood and meaning. Even after color became common, black-and-white remains in use for aesthetic reasons, practical considerations, or to evoke a vintage or documentary feel.

Technically, black-and-white images are grayscale representations in which each pixel is assigned a luminance value. Some works are monochrome in a single hue, such as sepia or cyanotype, but the term commonly refers to grayscale or near-monochrome tonality. In modern imaging, grayscale conversion and tone-mapping are key processes that establish the final appearance of a black-and-white image.

Uses span many media, including still photography, cinema, digital art, and print design. In journalism and documentary work, monochrome can signify timelessness or seriousness; in art and filmmaking, it is often chosen for mood, symbolism, or to emphasize composition and texture. Design and accessibility considerations also favor high-contrast black-and-white schemes to aid readability and visual clarity.

Orthography varies: the term is typically hyphenated as "black-and-white," though some branding or product names may render it as "blackandwhite." It remains closely related to concepts such as grayscale, monochrome, and duotone in imaging and printing.