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Monochrome

Use the monochrome transformation to remove color or apply a single-color monochrome treatment to a delivered image variant.

Overview​

Monochrome is useful for subdued thumbnails, disabled-state imagery, editorial treatments, and background images where color should not compete with surrounding UI.

Syntax​

FieldValue
Canonical parametermonochrome
Aliasmc
Accepted valuestrue, false, or a color value

False values are omitted by the JavaScript URL builder.

Example​

https://cdn.imgwire.dev/{organization_id}/{environment_id}/{image_id}?monochrome=true
image.url({
  monochrome: true,
  format: 'auto',
  quality: 'auto',
});
imgwire images url img_123 --monochrome true --format auto --quality auto

Before and after​

Demo image converted to monochrome
Original transformation demo image

Best practices​

  • Use monochrome when a delivered variant should be visually quieter than the original.
  • Use a color value when you want a single-color brand treatment.
  • Use Duotone when you need separate shadow and highlight colors.

Common mistakes​

  • Using monochrome for images where color carries essential meaning.
  • Assuming a monochrome variant will work behind text without checking contrast.
  • Applying monochrome globally when only a specific state or layout needs it.

Last updated at: May 9, 2026