Infrared film.
Film which is designed to be sensitive to certain wavelengths of infrared energy - electromagnetic radiation which the human eye cannot see.
This kind of “invisible light photography,” based on recording reflected infrared energy, can produce very interesting effects. Deciduous trees, for example, glow white when using black and white infrared film - the “Wood” effect. Skies, however, are pitch black. You can also buy colour infrared film, an infrared-sensitive type of false colour film, which results in plants recording as an eerie red when used with yellow filters.
Note that infrared film does not record heat patterns. That’s thermal imaging; something else entirely. Infrared film can only detect certain frequencies of IR energy which are reflected back from an object. The IR energy source in most IR photography is the sun but it can also be flash units, etc.
cf. infrared, sprocket hole counter, thermal imaging, ultraviolet, Wood effect.
Entry last updated 2002-04-05. Term 646 of 1487.
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