diff --git a/csaxs_bec/device_configs/flomni_config.yaml b/csaxs_bec/device_configs/flomni_config.yaml
index 0d1ddc3..e2a20c5 100644
--- a/csaxs_bec/device_configs/flomni_config.yaml
+++ b/csaxs_bec/device_configs/flomni_config.yaml
@@ -399,7 +399,9 @@ cam_xeye:
   deviceConfig:
     camera_id: 1
     bits_per_pixel: 24
-    # channels: 3
+    num_rotation_90: 3
+    transpose: false
+    force_monochrome: true
     m_n_colormode: 1
   enabled: true
   onFailure: buffer
@@ -412,7 +414,9 @@ cam_ids_rgb:
   deviceConfig:
     camera_id: 203
     bits_per_pixel: 24
-    # channels: 3
+    num_rotation_90: 3
+    transpose: false
+    force_monochrome: true
     m_n_colormode: 1
   enabled: true
   onFailure: buffer
diff --git a/csaxs_bec/devices/ids_cameras/base_integration/camera.py b/csaxs_bec/devices/ids_cameras/base_integration/camera.py
index d0cb22b..bc73210 100644
--- a/csaxs_bec/devices/ids_cameras/base_integration/camera.py
+++ b/csaxs_bec/devices/ids_cameras/base_integration/camera.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import atexit
 from typing import Literal
 
 import numpy as np
+import time
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 
 from csaxs_bec.devices.ids_cameras.base_integration.utils import check_error
@@ -164,10 +165,12 @@ class Camera:
             m_n_colormode: Literal[0, 1, 2, 3] = 1,
             bits_per_pixel: int = 24,
             connect: bool = True,
+            force_monochrome: bool = False,
     ):
         self.ueye = ueye
         self.camera_id = camera_id
         self._inputs = {"m_n_colormode": m_n_colormode, "bits_per_pixel": bits_per_pixel}
+        self.force_monochrome = force_monochrome
         self._connected = False
         self.cam = None
         atexit.register(self.on_disconnect)
@@ -197,14 +200,16 @@ class Camera:
         self.cam = IDSCameraObject(self.camera_id, **self._inputs)
         self._connected = True
 
-    def on_disconnect(self):
-        """Disconnect from the camera."""
+    def on_disconnect(self, delay_after: float = 0.3):
+        """Disconnect from the camera and optionally wait a short time for driver cleanup."""
         try:
             if self.cam and self.cam.h_cam:
                 check_error(self.ueye.is_ExitCamera(self.cam.h_cam), "IDSCameraObject")
             self._connected = False
             self.cam = None
-            logger.info("Camera disconnected.")
+            if delay_after > 0:
+                time.sleep(delay_after)
+                logger.debug(f"Waited {delay_after:.2f}s after camera disconnect for cleanup.")
         except Exception as e:
             logger.info(f"Error during camera disconnection: {e}")
 
@@ -269,6 +274,12 @@ class Camera:
         # If RGB image (H, W, 3), reshuffle channels from BGR → RGB
         if img.ndim == 3 and img.shape[2] == 3:
             img = img[:, :, ::-1]
+            if self.force_monochrome:
+                gray = np.dot(img[..., :3], [0.2989, 0.5870, 0.1140]).astype(np.uint8)
+                # expand to 3D shape (H, W, 1) for consistency with real mono cams
+                img = np.expand_dims(gray, axis=-1)
+                img = np.ascontiguousarray(img)
+
         return img
 
 
diff --git a/csaxs_bec/devices/ids_cameras/ids_camera.py b/csaxs_bec/devices/ids_cameras/ids_camera.py
index 5fecb90..0691769 100644
--- a/csaxs_bec/devices/ids_cameras/ids_camera.py
+++ b/csaxs_bec/devices/ids_cameras/ids_camera.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class IDSCamera(PSIDeviceBase):
             live_mode: bool = False,
             num_rotation_90: int = 0,
             transpose: bool = False,
+            force_monochrome: bool = False,
             **kwargs,
     ):
         """Initialize the IDS Camera.
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ class IDSCamera(PSIDeviceBase):
         self._mask = np.zeros((1, 1), dtype=np.uint8)
         self.image.num_rotation_90 = num_rotation_90
         self.image.transpose = transpose
+        self._force_monochrome = force_monochrome
 
     ############## Live Mode Methods ##############
 
@@ -184,6 +186,7 @@ class IDSCamera(PSIDeviceBase):
 
     def on_connected(self):
         """Connect to the camera."""
+        self.cam.force_monochrome = self._force_monochrome
         self.cam.on_connect()
         self.live_mode = self._inputs.get("live_mode", False)
         self.set_rect_roi(0, 0, self.cam.cam.width.value, self.cam.cam.height.value)