Translucence

Translucence refers to the property of a material that allows light to pass through it but scatters it so that objects on the far side cannot be clearly seen. This places translucence between transparency, where light passes with minimal scattering and objects are visible, and opacity, where light is blocked.

Light entering a translucent material is absorbed and scattered by its microstructure, including particles, fibers, and interfaces, producing diffuse transmission. Subsurface scattering is common in tissues and many polymers. Common translucent materials include frosted glass, wax paper, marble, jade, and milk.

The appearance of a translucent object depends on thickness and wavelength; transmitted light may be tinted by pigments, and thicker sections transmit less light and appear more opaque. Because the light is diffused, edges tend to be blurred and details beyond the surface are not sharply visible.

In practice, translucence is important in design, art, and science. Architects and designers use translucent panels to admit daylight while preserving privacy. In art, translucent materials help create soft illumination and subtle color effects. In scientific and industrial contexts, translucence is described by diffuse transmittance and scattering coefficients and assessed through optical measurements.