panchromatic film

6.8

Material for taking pictures that records light in colors we can see

noun
/ˌpæŋkrəˈmætɪk fɪlm/

Specialized

: film panchromático

Because panchromatic film captures a full spectrum of light, it is ideal for detailed landscape photography.

Examples

Many classic movies were shot on panchromatic film to achieve balanced grayscale tones.
Early photographers favored panchromatic film for its accurate color rendering in black-and-white prints.
The photographer prefers panchromatic film for its versatility.
Have you tried using panchromatic films for your projects?
Many photographers choose panchromatic film because it captures all visible colors for great detail.
For stunning black-and-white images, using panchromatic film can enhance the tonal range.
In landscape photography, panchromatic film is preferred for its sensitivity to light across the visible spectrum.

How Sensitive

panchromatic film

Specialized

6.8

orthochromatic film

Archaic

9.6

Surface Forms

panchromatic film singular

panchromatic films plural

Morphology

panchromatic + film

The phrase is directly compositional: 'panchromatic' (responsive to the full spectrum of visible light) modifies 'film', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it means film sensitive to all visible colors. The adjective+noun structure and the identifiable morpheme pan- ('all') make the meaning predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Panchromatic film comes from two small words: pan meaning 'all' and chromatic meaning 'color'. So it literally means film that 'sees' all colors, which is why this film captures every color of light and gives balanced gray tones in black-and-white photos.