The two main types of black-and-white film are known as panchromatic and chromogenic. The panchromatic type uses developed-out silver to disperse light to form an image, and can be conveniently processed in a domestic environment. Chromogenic films are low in contrast and use clouds of neutral-coloured dye to absorb light rather than disperse it, and are processed using the standard C41 high-street colour process to produce monochrome negatives. Chromogenic negatives can be printed onto colour or black-and-white paper, although a poorly-regulated process may result in unwanted colour casts on colour papers

Black-and-white film is often used for landscapes, general portraiture, reportage and nudes. The available range of speeds and other characteristics satisfies every imaginable application. Panchromatic films such as Ilford Delta 100, Kodak T-Max and Tri-X, and Fuji Neopan are all excellent. Kodak T400 CN and Ilford XP2 are example of chromogenic films.