What does solarization mean?
Solarization is the process of exposing photographic material or another substance to strong sunlight, with the result that the material is overexposed or chemically altered. In photography, prolonged or excessive exposure can cause a negative, plate, or film image to fade, reverse, or become unnaturally pale or dark. The term is also used more broadly for intentional or experimental exposure of materials to sunlight. In everyday discussions of photography, solarization is usually a specialized form of overexposure distinguished by its emphasis on image reversal or chemical change. It is useful to photographers, conservators, and researchers studying the effects of light on materials, because ordinary fading and the more striking reversal of an image are related but not identical phenomena.
nounThe process of exposing material to sunlight, especially the damaging overexposure of photographic film or plates. It may cause a photographic image to fade, reverse, or otherwise undergo unwanted chemical change.
- The overexposure of photographic film, plates, or paper to sunlight, causing fading, reversal, or other chemical alteration.
- The exposure of material to sunlight in order to induce a chemical or physical change.
"Long exposure to direct sunlight caused solarization, turning the photograph into a ghostly negative."
"The old plate suffered from solarization after being left in the sun."
"Researchers exposed the material to controlled solarization before examining its chemical changes."
A rare countable noun, used chiefly when discussing separate instances of the process.
"The conservators documented several solarizations affecting the photographic plates."
Too much sunlight can transform a photograph by reversing its image, turning a bright scene into an eerie negative.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of solarization
Solarization was formed in English from the Latin-derived adjective solar and the suffix -ization. Solar ultimately comes from Latin sol, meaning "sun," which is also the source of words such as solarium and solstice. The compound originally referred to the action of sunlight on a substance and was later applied particularly to the alteration or reversal of photographic images caused by excessive exposure.
Related word forms
How solarization is actually used
The term is chiefly used in photography and in specialized technical contexts. In British English, the spelling "solarisation" is common. It is more precise than simply saying that a photograph was "overexposed" when the emphasis is on light-induced chemical change or image reversal.