gelatinografía

Gelatinografía is a term used in some Spanish-language scientific and artistic literature to describe imaging and visualization techniques that rely on gelatin as a central medium. The exact meaning varies by discipline, but it generally refers to procedures in which gelatin serves as a gelatinous substrate, binder, or emulsion for recording light, morphology, or chemical information.

In its most common historical usage, gelatin acts as an emulsion or carrier in photographic or micrographic processes. A gelatin layer is prepared, sometimes dyed or modified with additives; after exposure to light or other stimuli, a development or fixation step reveals an image or imprint. In microscopy and paleontology, gelatinous matrices have been employed to embed specimens or to create casts that preserve surface detail for study.

Techniques described under gelatinografía include photogrammetric or photochemical methods based on gelatin emulsions, embedding and sectioning for microscopic visualization, and malleable gelatin casts used to record complex geometries. The approach is characterized by its reliance on gelatin’s physical properties—gel strength, transparency, and stability under controlled humidity.

Applications span archival imaging and art conservation, biological specimen preparation, and documentation of fragile surfaces in museums and laboratories. Because the term is not standardized, gelatinografía can refer to several distinct methods that share the core principle of using gelatin as an enabling medium rather than a single uniform protocol.