Photographic printing

Photographic printing is the process of producing a final image on paper for viewing, using chemically sensitized paper. The paper is exposed to a photographic negative, a positive transparency (or slide), or a digital image file projected using an enlarger or digital exposure unit such as a LightJet or Minilab printer. Alternatively, the negative or transparency may be placed atop the paper and directly exposed, creating a contact print. Digital photographs are commonly printed on plain paper, for example by a color printer, but this is not considered "photographic printing".^[1]

Following exposure, the paper is processed to reveal and make permanent the latent image.

^ Breidenbach, Susan (2017-06-08). "Printed Matters". forbes.com. Small-Business Home-Office Technology Buyers Guide. Retrieved 2023-06-08. At the high end of the market, the output from color inkjet printers can now give you almost the same results as the traditional photographic printing process that involves color separations.

[1] Breidenbach, Susan (2017-06-08). "Printed Matters". forbes.com. Small-Business Home-Office Technology Buyers Guide. Retrieved 2023-06-08. At the high end of the market, the output from color inkjet printers can now give you almost the same results as the traditional photographic printing process that involves color separations.

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