How to · 8 min
Editing monochrome camera photographs: Leica and Ricoh
A tonal workflow for Leica M10 Monochrom, M11 Monochrom, Q2 Monochrom, and Ricoh GR IV Monochrome photographers.
A dedicated monochrome camera captures a black-and-white source, so the editing task is not simply removing color. It is deciding how light, texture, and local contrast should read. Leica M10 Monochrom (M10M), Leica M11 Monochrom (M11M), Leica Q2 Monochrom (Q2M, also searched as “Leica Q2 Monochrome”), and Ricoh GR IV Monochrome (sometimes written GRIV Monochrome) belong to this dedicated-camera conversation. Their names identify the audience for this workflow, not an endorsement or certification.
The method
Step by step.
- Begin by testing a copy of an original file. Confirm that the installed app opens it correctly, shows the expected dimensions, and produces a usable export. A shared file extension is not proof of camera-specific decoding support.
- Inspect the source before applying a look. Identify important highlights, shadow texture, and areas that should remain quiet. Do not expect a color-channel mixer to separate colors that were never captured as separate channels.
- Start with a neutral Profile. Establish the broad tonal balance with Light, paying particular attention to reflective surfaces and the brightest useful sky detail.
- Use Tone Curve for small changes to tonal separation. A monochrome source still benefits from considered contrast; it does not automatically need a strong S-curve.
- Use local masks to differentiate the subject from its surroundings. For countryside, preserve the gradual loss of contrast into mist. For street or car photographs, keep important dark surfaces distinguishable.
- Evaluate noise and sharpening at 100% before adding grain. Export a small proof and inspect it in the intended viewing conditions before committing to a print or a full series.
Keep this close
Control reference.
- Native monochrome capture
- A black-and-white source is different from a color photograph converted later; missing color separation cannot be restored by naming a film look.
- Camera support
- Must be verified with actual files and a particular app release. This article is not a compatibility matrix.
- Tone Curve availability
- The luminance Tone Curve sits immediately before Finish.
Closer to the controls
See the settings, not a reconstruction.
This detail is cropped from the real application capture above. Click to enlarge, then choose actual pixels to inspect the labels and sliders.
At your own pace
Try it.
Make two interpretations of a familiar scene: one prioritizing rich dark tones and one preserving airy midtones. Compare subject readability, not just the histogram shape.
Watch for
Do not label unrelated example images as Leica or Ricoh samples. Avoid assuming sensor performance, highlight recovery, or RAW compatibility without a file-based test.
Monochrome Lab Pro workflow guide. Interface details may evolve. Example settings are creative starting points, not automatic corrections.
Further reading.
Manufacturer references for the context above. Third-party names belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.