colour filter

A color filter is a transparent material that modifies light by selectively absorbing certain wavelengths (colors) while allowing others to pass through. These filters can be made from colored glass, plastic, or gelatin.12

In photography, color filters are used to adjust how colors are captured. For black-and-white film, they help translate colors into appropriate gray tones, mimicking human vision or controlling contrast. In color photography, filters can correct or alter the color quality of light to match the film's sensitivity.1

Filters can also reduce light intensity without changing color (neutral density filters) or decrease glare from reflective surfaces (polarizing filters). When filters absorb light, an increased exposure, known as the filter factor, is usually needed.12