Transparent.

In the context of photography, a substance or medium which permits the passage of some or all wavelengths of light but which does not scatter it.

Optical material, such as the glass which makes up camera lenses, must be extremely transparent. Of course, transparent material need not permit the passage of all wavelengths of light. For example, a red filter for a camera blocks the passage of green and blue components of white light whilst permitting the passage of red light. However, since the filter does not scatter the red light it’s still considered to be transparent. There are other materials which, for instance, permit the passage of infrared energy but block visible light. Such materials are considered to be infrared-transparent and light-opaque.

cf. infrared, light, opacity, opaque, optics, optical glass, scattering, translucent.

Entry last updated 2002-05-08. Term 1244 of 1487.

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