Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
photographic density

photographic density

8.4
The amount that film or printing paper blocks light
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : densidad fotográfica
  • A higher photographic density indicates that less light is transmitted through the photographic plate.

Examples

  • The photographic density of the film determines how much detail is captured in darker areas.

  • Accurate measurement of photographic density is essential in quality control for printing processes.

  • The photographic density of the film affects the final image quality.

  • Higher photographic densities result in darker images.

  • A higher photographic density means that less light travels through the photographic material.

  • The technician noted that accurate measurement of photographic density is crucial for achieving desired print quality.

  • Understanding the photographic density of the film helps photographers adjust their exposure settings.

Synonyms

absorbance
vsphotographic density
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A number that shows how much light a substance stops when light passes through it

measures reduced transmission for materials used to make images, not general radiation uptake
optical density
vsphotographic density
  • Specialized
1 7.1

How much a material reduces the amount of light that passes through it

applies only to materials used to make images rather than all substances

Antonyms

transparency
  • Specialized
5 4.6

To let light pass so you can see objects behind

How Dense

photographic density
  • Specialized
8.4
low density
  • Specialized
1 3.7

Surface Forms

photographic density singular
photographic densities plural

Morphology

photographic + density

The compound is compositionally the 'density' of something photographic, so a learner who knows 'photographic' and 'density' can infer it refers to how 'dense' a photographic material is. However, the specific technical sense (optical density as reduction of light transmission) is specialized and not fully predictable from the everyday meaning of 'density', making the phrase only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Photographic density comes from darkroom work: areas of film or paper with more dark material were said to have greater density because they 'block light'. So photographic density means how much the photographic material 'reduces the light' that passes through it, and higher density means less light gets through.