Fotolemissio

Fotolemmisio is a sculpture technique originating from the Italian Republic. Developed in the late 20th century, it involves the removal of a portion of a photographic material, usually to create a new image or to expose a latent image. This technique specifically references photographs printed from silver halide materials, such as paper prints made from film negatives.

In the context of photolemmisio, the photographer would retouch a photograph on the surface of the developed print, usually using chemicals that either attract or repel light exposure. Simplistically, a paint could be used to inhibit exposure to light. In theory, the changes to the emulsion resulting in a photographic image on the surface.

Although the technique is best associated with Italian art and artists from that period, usage expanded globally. Many contemporary photographers use photolemmisio as an artistic mean of altering existing images through light and/or chemical modifications. Combinations of agents or step procedures would often be needed to modify photographic prints.

Exemption of areas on a surface from the region ('frame') that receives light could be another definition for this technique. Areas so covered (treated to be unexposed) retain darks, usually in variable shade and tone. Some of these originally use chemical vat with silk or cotton, however exploiting large areas resistant often would hide entire created scenes, though accentuating white spot.