A monochromatic color scheme uses one hue in many tints, tones and shades. Mono means one and chroma means color, both from Greek. Light blue, middle blue and navy together are monochromatic.
Key idea
Monochromatic = one hue, many values and saturations. The contrast comes from value, not from different hues.
Why it works
Because every part shares the same hue, a monochromatic picture holds together easily: it has strong unity. Its interest comes from light and dark. Pablo Picasso's Blue Period paintings (1901 to 1904) are well-known examples, built almost entirely from blues.
Worked example: Is it monochromatic?
A poster uses pale green, middle green and very dark green, plus white paper. Is its scheme monochromatic?
- Every color is a version of one hue: green.
- Only the values change.
- White paper is a neutral, not another hue.
Answer: Yes: one hue (green) in several values.
To keep a one-hue picture lively, use a wide range of values from pale to deep, let one area hold the strongest contrast, and vary saturation and texture.
Common mistake
Thinking monochromatic means black and white only. A black-and-white photo is one kind (it uses no hue at all), but any single hue in many values counts: all blues, all greens, all browns.