Monochrome

A monochrome photograph. (TV: Spearhead from Space ^[+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"])

Monochrome, or, more colloquially, black and white, was the term relating to a single colour or hue. 

History

Haemovariforms' vision was monochromatic. (TV: Tooth and Claw ^[+]Loading...["Tooth and Claw (TV story)"])

The Doctor's first two incarnations were said to have had monochromatic vision due to colour blindness; the War Doctor mused over this after noticing the new colour balance in his eyes shortly after his regeneration. (PROSE: The Day of the Doctor ^[+]Loading...["The Day of the Doctor (novelisation)"]) In another account, the Third Doctor recalled noticing the colours of the rocks on Gallifrey in his childhood after meeting a hermit on the mountainside. (TV: The Time Monster ^[+]Loading...["The Time Monster (TV story)"])

Prior to the late 20th century, photography was primarily in monochrome. (TV: Spearhead from Space ^[+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"] etc.) This included films of the era (TV: The Impossible Astronaut ^[+]Loading...["The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)"] etc.) and television. After witnessing the Wire turn a black and white television to colour, Detective Inspector Bishop was amazed. (TV: The Idiot's Lantern ^[+]Loading...["The Idiot's Lantern (TV story)"]) Upon arriving in New York City in 1930, nearly 80 years in her past, Martha Jones recalled the sight of its depiction in "old black and white newsreels". (TV: Daleks in Manhattan ^[+]Loading...["Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)"])

Behind the scenes

The Doctor's first and second incarnations being described as having "monochromatic" vision is a reference to the black and white filming of their eras, before the transition to colour at the beginning of Jon Pertwee's run as the Doctor.