halation
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of halation
Explanation
In photography and cinematography, halation refers to the spreading of light beyond its proper boundaries. It creates a soft, glowing effect around the brightest parts of an image. The word halation comes from the word halo, a glowing circle of light shown around the head of an angel, saint, or other holy person in many paintings. Halation is usually associated with analog film. When you take a photo, light passes through the film's light-sensitive layer. Some of the light might go all the way through the film and reflect back, scattering into a slightly larger area. It might create a reddish or orange glow in color film, or a soft white blur in black-and-white film. While halation was originally seen as a flaw, today, many photographers and filmmakers like the artistic, dreamy feel of halation. They often try to imitate the effect digitally.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Brandon Stirling Baker’s lighting, with its dominant halation of white, also has a space-age aura.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025
When viewed from several feet away, the dots coalesce into a halation of amorphous color.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2024
When viewed from several feet away, the dots coalesced into a halation of amorphous color.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2023
The first advantage, which I soon discovered, is their entire freedom from halation.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 623, December 10, 1887 by Various
As at Sannah's Post, so again at Lindley the halation of a word or two in his orders fogged the image on his retina.
From A Handbook of the Boer War With General Map of South Africa and 18 Sketch Maps and Plans by
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