Glossary of Terms N-Z

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

N

negative carrier

Removable holder which fits between lensboard and lamphouse of an enlarger.Holds negative flat and in a fixed position. Can be glassed or glassless. Glass prevents negatives popping or buckling from heat of the lamp but introduces more surfaces for dust to settle on.

O

P

print tongs

Plastic tongs ,often with rubber tips, used to lift prints and transfer between developing trays without allowing solutions to come in contact with skin.

Q

R

S

safelight

Orange or red light used in a darkroom.Gives out light of a wavelength to which photographics paper is relatively insensitive. Safelights are not actually safe. Leave paper exposed to a " safe " light close enough or for long enough and the paper will fog.

silver halide

Light sensitive component of photographics emulsion. Compound made up of silver and either chlorine,bromine or occasionally iodine (halogens). Silver bromide being the most common.

spiral

Plastic or stainless steel reel with grooves into which film is threaded prior to processing.

stop

see f-stop

stop bath

Acidic bath used between developer and fixer. Halts the development process as developer requires an alkaline environment to function.

T

test strip

Print with a series of consecutive exposed strips ranging from too dark, to, too light. Used to gauge required exposure for a print

U

V

W

wetting agent

A few drops added at the end of washing reduce surface tension of water preventing droplets forming on surface during drying. As drops dry they leave a roughly circular " drying mark" of residue from the water.

X

Y

Z