Photographic paper

Photographic paper is a type of heavy paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals. The paper may be exposed to light, in a controlled manner using a photographic enlarger, to create a latent image, and developed to create a visible image.

Photographic paper is usually sensitive only to a select range of wavelengths of light. A safelight is a special lamp that emits only those frequencies to which paper is not sensitive. It is thus possible to work with photographic paper in a lighted room. This enables the photographer to perform a wide range of manipulations to produce special effects, and to correct errors made while shooting or developing film.