Where only white and black colour is used, is called:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1: Achromatic.
The term 'achromatic' stems from the Greek root 'a-' meaning 'without' and 'chroma' meaning 'color,' literally translating to 'without color' or 'without hue.' In the context of art and design, an achromatic color scheme is precisely defined as one that uses only the neutral tones: black, white, and the spectrum of grays created by mixing them. These colors do not appear on the traditional color wheel because they lack any identifiable hue. Therefore, any artwork, photograph, or design that is strictly limited to this black-and-white scale is correctly and specifically categorized by the art world as achromatic, relying solely on value—the relative lightness and darkness—to convey form, depth, and contrast.

The incorrect option is 2: Polychromatic.
The term 'polychromatic' is the direct opposite of achromatic. Derived from 'poly-' meaning 'many' and 'chroma' meaning 'color,' it refers to a scheme that incorporates multiple colors or many different hues. A polychromatic work is vibrant and multicolored, often utilizing a wide range of colors that span the color wheel, such as the colors found in a rainbow. Using only black and white, which are strictly neutral colors, fundamentally contradicts the definition of being multicolored.

The incorrect option is 3: Monochromatic.
While seemingly related, 'monochromatic' is technically distinct and incorrect in this pure black and white context. A monochromatic scheme is built around a single *hue* (such as blue, red, or green) and uses only the tints (hue + white) and shades (hue + black) of that specific color. Therefore, a true monochromatic composition would feature a hue, like a range of light and dark blues, which a black and white image distinctly lacks. The appropriate term for zero hue is 'achromatic,' not 'one color' (mono-chromatic).

The incorrect option is 4: Triad.
'Triad' refers to a specific type of color harmony, not a simple color count. A Triadic color scheme is defined by the use of three colors that are positioned equally distant from one another on the color wheel, such as the three primary colors (red, yellow, blue). This scheme is inherently full of *hue* and is used to create strong, balanced, and vibrant contrast. Since black and white contain no hue, the concept of selecting a Triad from the color wheel is inapplicable to the artwork described.