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emulsion

emulsion

2 7.8
A light sensitive layer on film or paper that holds tiny bits of silver
  • noun
  • /ɪˈmʌlʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : emulsión
  • From the above, a fairly good idea regarding the behavior and use of infrared-sensitive emulsion may be acquired.
  • photographic emulsion
  • film emulsion

There has been concerned that the emulsion might separate from the plates.

Examples

  • So a very high quality picture is made from an emulsion of some sort of a chemical, originally silver bromide.

  • To create the photograph, he applied the emulsion of silver bromide to the paper before exposure to light.

  • We're going to add some photographic emulsion on top of that like that.

  • There has been concerned that the emulsion might separate from the plates.

  • We didn't even have film stock that had the same emulsion numbers.

  • The emulsion is made infrared sensitive by the inclusion of a special dye.

    Academic text (1995)
  • By this time, photographic emulsions had improved considerably since the era of Holden's efforts.

    Academic text (2004)
  • You'll have an emulsion of silver nitrate laid on one side of the glass that will darken when light hits it.

  • Her interest in Polaroid emulsion transfers from 35mm color slides has shown to be a real favorite with gallery viewers.

    Academic text (2005)
  • In late March 1911, Colin succeeded in creating an emulsion that reacted to distinct wavelengths of light.

Synonyms

photographic emulsion
vsemulsion
  • Specialized
6.8

A light-sensitive coating on film or paper that records images when exposed to light

uses specifically silver bromide grains rather than the broader halide term

Compounds

photographic emulsion
  • Specialized
6.8

A light-sensitive coating on film or paper that records images when exposed to light

Surface Forms

emulsion singular
emulsions plural

Morphology

emulsion = emulsify (opaque) = emuls + ion

Although formed from 'emulsify' + '-ion', the photographic technical sense is specialized and not easily inferred by average learners.

Etymology

Emulsion comes from the Latin root emulgere, which means 'to milk'. Think of a thin, 'milky' coating on film where tiny particles that are 'sensitive to light' sit in a clear jelly, like fat droplets in milk. So a photographic emulsion is the thin layer that holds and records the image.