For many photographers it is one or the other, as to shoot in both colour and black and white at the same time is not something that many can achieve.

BBC: Rene Burri in colour

Today most are working in colour, and the realm of black and white is now that of the art photographer.

BBC: Rene Burri in colour

One is that the displays must turn from black-and-white to colour.

ECONOMIST: Electronic screens as thin as paper are coming soon

The missing lizard is described as being dark green and black in colour, with around half its length being its tail.

BBC: Black-throated monitor lizard

The staff - and most of the diners - are dressed in black-and-white in sympathy, and it's probably no accident that by far the most popular of the 80 immaculately presented tortillas on the menu is the colour-coded morcilla de arroz de Burgos: black sausage and white rice.

BBC: Barcelona: More than meets the eye

Like the earlier model, this version can be used on plastics of any colour, but it is particularly good at dealing with the black stuff.

ECONOMIST: Recycling

He is also known - in popular language - as "the Black Pope" because of the colour of his habit.

BBC: Pope Francis' first moves hint at break with past

Last May, Plastic Logic demonstrated a paper-like flexible screen capable of playing video in colour, which is achieved by placing a filter on top of the original black-and-white display.

BBC: Bend me, shape me: Flexible phones 'out by 2013'