framkalla

Framkalla is a verb used in Swedish and Norwegian to mean developing a photograph or, more broadly, to evoke or bring forth something. In photography, framkalla refers to the chemical processing of light-sensitive material, typically film or photographic paper, to produce a visible image. The standard process historically includes developing the exposed material in a developer to reduce exposed silver halide to metallic silver, followed by stopping the development, fixing to remove unexposed silver halide, washing, and drying. The exact chemicals and times vary with the emulsion and the desired result, and different workflows exist for black-and-white versus color materials. In film photography, framkalla is usually performed in a darkroom or controlled lighting environment.

In contemporary usage, framkalla persists among film enthusiasts and professional laboratories, though digital imaging has largely supplanted chemical development for many applications. The verb also has a figurative sense in Swedish and Norwegian, meaning to evoke, summon, or bring forth memories, responses, or atmospheres.

Notes on usage and variants: Swedish uses framkalla (to develop a photograph), while Norwegian Bokmål uses framkalle with a similar meaning. In both languages, the term can be applied to the literal act of developing photographic media as well as to metaphorical evocation in speech and writing.