Latenssikuvan

Latenssikuvan is a Finnish term that translates loosely to "latent image" or "hidden image." It refers to a photographic image that has been exposed onto a light-sensitive material, such as photographic film or paper, but has not yet undergone the chemical development process to make it visible. Before development, the latent image exists as a pattern of microscopic changes within the silver halide crystals of the emulsion, triggered by the action of light.

The process of developing a latent image involves chemical reactions that convert these exposed silver halide grains into metallic silver, which forms the visible image. Underexposed or overexposed latent images can lead to underexposed or overexposed final photographs, respectively. The quality and appearance of the final image are directly influenced by the nature and intensity of the latent image formed during exposure. Factors such as the sensitivity of the film or paper, the duration of exposure, and the aperture of the lens all contribute to the characteristics of the latent image. While primarily associated with traditional film photography, the concept of a latent image also has parallels in digital imaging, where sensor data is captured before being processed into a visible digital photograph.