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Glite Dictionary
🧪 A slowing chemical 🛑 A controller
restrainer

restrainer

9.1
A chemical you add to film developer to slow development and reduce fog
  • noun
  • /rɪˈstreɪnər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : frenador
  • Potassium bromide is often used as a restrainer in black-and-white photographic development.

Examples

  • The addition of a restrainer helps prevent unwanted fogging on the film.

  • She adjusted the amount of restrainer to fine-tune the image quality.

  • A restrainer is essential.

  • Don't forget the restrainer!

  • Potassium bromide acts as a restrainer in the photographic development process by slowing down the development.

  • Using a restrainer during development reduces fogging on the film and improves the final image.

  • The restrainer added to the developer enhances the clarity of black-and-white photographs.

Surface Forms

restrainer singular
restrainers plural

Morphology

restrainer = restrain (transparent) = restrain + er

A technical/chemical substance named as an agent that 'restrains' development; morphologically straightforward as 'restrain' + '-er'.

Etymology

The word restrainer comes from restrain, with re- 'back' and the root string 'to tie' or 'tighten'. So a restrainer in photography is a chemical that 'holds back' development, slowing the process and helping to reduce fog on film.