Okuzeka
Photography vocabulary · Printing

Matte

Meaning in photography, with examples

/mæt/adjectiveCommon term

In photography, matte means: Having a smooth surface that is not shiny and does not reflect much light. Used for photo papers, finishes and laminates.

In Turkish: mat

How it is used

Labs usually offer matte, glossy and lustre (or satin) finishes. Matte paper hides fingerprints and reflections and suits fine art and black-and-white prints; glossy paper gives deeper blacks and stronger colors. In editing, a matte look means lifted, faded blacks.

Example sentences

  1. Let's print the exhibition set on matte paper to avoid glare under the spotlights.

  2. Would you like a glossy or a matte finish for the album?

Common collocations

  • matte paper
  • matte finish
  • matte or glossy
  • matte look
  • printA photograph produced on paper or another material, such as canvas or metal, from a digital file or a negative.
  • test printA small or partial print made before the final one to check the colors, brightness, sharpness and choice of paper.
  • black and whiteMade only of shades of gray from black to white, without any color. Also called monochrome.

More terms: Printing

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