Translucide

Translucide, or translucent in English, describes a property of materials that permit light to pass through but do not allow a clear image to be seen. A translucent surface diffuses light, so objects on the far side appear blurred rather than sharply resolved. This places translucence between transparency and opacity, with transparent materials transmitting light with little scattering and opaque materials blocking most light.

The effect results from scattering by microstructures, impurities, or surface roughness that redirect photons in multiple directions. The degree of translucence depends on thickness, wavelength, and the material’s scattering and absorption properties. Some materials are colorless but still translucent, while others acquire color from pigments that absorb certain wavelengths.

Common examples include frosted or etched glass, milk glass, parchment, wax, certain plastics, paper, jade, and human or animal tissues. Thin, lightly scattering layers may be nearly transparent, while thicker layers often appear more opaque or produce greater blur.

Uses include architecture and interior design (frosted windows and lampshades), art and crafts, medical and biological imaging (tissue visualization), and packaging where light diffusion is desirable. In optics, translucence is studied alongside transparency and opacity, with metrics such as haze or diffuse transmittance.

In French, the term translucide is used similarly to English translucent. The concept helps describe how light interacts with materials and influences color perception, texture, and atmosphere in visual design.