Silver halides are light-sensitive crystals, such as silver bromide, silver chloride, and silver iodide, that form the basis of traditional photographic emulsions. When exposed to light, these crystals undergo a chemical change, eventually converting from white to black metallic silver during development, thereby recording the image.
Silver halides are essential for film and photographic paper, providing high sensitivity, fine detail, and rich tonal range. Their precise formulation and handling determine the quality, contrast, and resolution of the final photographic image.