A cold light enlarger is a photographic enlarger that uses cold cathode illumination, providing a diffusion-type light source that evenly scatters light across the surface of the negative. This type of enlarger head helps produce prints with more subtle tonal gradations and reduces the impact of dust, scratches, or imperfections on the negative, resulting in cleaner final images. Cold light enlargers are widely used in black-and-white and fine art darkroom photography, offering photographers enhanced control over contrast, detail, and overall print quality compared to traditional tungsten or incandescent enlargers.

SWPP Photographic Glossary