A system produces an interpolated luminance-balanced monochrome image from a Red-Clear-Clear-Clear (RCCC) pattern image. It may include an imager having a RCCC pattern filter array. There is an interpolation processing module with one or more processors processing sampled, red filtered image pixels. A red plane is interpolated using the sampled, red filtered pixels, producing an interpolated red for the pixels. The interpolated red pixels are subtracted from the sampled clear pixels, producing a “Clear minus Red” (“C−R”) plane. A C−R value is interpolated for the red filtered pixels. The interpolated C−R value is added to the sampled red pixels, and the monochrome image is output, where the luminance is balanced across the pixels, especially in low and very light environments.