A panchromatic emulsion is a type of photographic emulsion that is sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light, and produces a monochrome photograph—typically black and white. Most modern commercially available film is panchromatic, and the technology is usually contrasted with earlier methods that cannot register all wavelengths, especially orthochromatic film.
In digital imaging, a panchromatic sensor is an image sensor or array of sensors that combine the visible spectrum with non-visible wavelengths, such as ultraviolet or infrared. Images produced are also black and white, and the system is used for its ability to produce higher resolution images than standard digital sensors.