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photographic paper

photographic paper

1 3.2
Paper covered with a chemical that changes when it sees light, used to make photos
  • noun
  • /ˌfoʊtəˈgræfɪk ˈpeɪpər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : papel fotográfico
  • Jen shoved the photographic paper into the easel, trying to get it to fit.
  • surface of the photographic paper

Examples

  • The student carefully placed the photographic paper in the developing tray to reveal the image.

  • A remaining challenge was to make more sensitive photographic paper for the final picture.

    Academic text (2007)
  • - And this must be photographic paper.

  • The other is the surface of the photographic paper.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Under a safelight, place a sheet of photographic paper below your white light source.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Once again, retouching would then be carried out and the final prints made by contact printing onto photographic paper.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Quinn watched her work, enjoying the smooth precision of her movements as she slid photographic paper into the easel under the dim red light.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Traditionally, paper negatives from 35mm originals were made by enlargement onto monochrome photographic paper.

    Academic text (2003)
  • To create beautiful prints, use high-quality photographic paper specially designed for darkroom work.

  • When developing photos, always use fresh photographic paper to ensure the best results.

Synonyms

photographic material
vsphotographic paper
  • Specialized
1 4.2

Paper or other material that changes when light hits it and is used to make photos

is the coated sheet used specifically for making prints rather than other surfaces
bromide paper
vsphotographic paper
  • Archaic
9.4

Paper used to make black or blue-black photographs in a darkroom

is the general light-sensitive sheet without the specific silver coating and tone

How Smooth

art paper
  • Specialized
1 4.4
photographic paper
  • Specialized
1 3.2
letter paper
  • US
1.0
newsprint
14 3.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

photographic + paper

The meaning 'paper coated with a light-sensitive chemical used for making photographic prints' is directly and transparently derived from 'photographic' (pertaining to photography) + 'paper' (thin sheets). This adjective+noun composition is a regular, cross-linguistically common formation, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The noun photographic paper comes from early photography when plain paper was coated with light-sensitive chemicals so it could 'catch' an image from a camera. That's why photographic paper simply means paper used to make 'photos'.