If you are a beginning photographer, or even if you have been in the business for years, there are undoubtedly some photo restoration and photography terms that you have heard before, but are not sure what they mean. This basic, but by no means exhaustive glossary of photo restoration and photography related terms will help you to improve your knowledge, and become more skilled at your craft as a result.

When it comes to aberration there are many types of aberrations, but an aberration in photographical terms relates to something that prevents light from being brought into sharp focus, and thus disenabling the formation of a clear image. Aberrations can be related to a lens flaw, i.e. the inability of a lens to reproduce an accurate, sharp, and focused image. These types of aberrations are categorized into seven types.

Chromatin aberration is different wavelengths of light coming into focus both in front and in back of the film plane, resulting in a rainbow halo and a reduction in image sharpness.

Curvilinear distortion is a distortion consisting of curved lines.

Lateral chromatic aberration is a variation in the magnification at the sides of a lens.

Accessory shoe is a fitting that is generally located at the top of a camera and is where accessories are generally attached.

Acutance is a measure of the sharpness with which a film can produce the edge of an object.

Agitation is a term that describes the gentle movement of liquid photo processing chemicals designed to achieve uniform results.

B and W is the abbreviation of the term black and white, and is also written as B and W and B slash W.

Backscatter are particles in water that are illuminated and captured on film when using a flash underwater near the lens of the camera.

Color reversal is a term that refers to film that is designed to make a positive image when exposed in the camera and is usually used to refer to slide film or transparency film. For this process to work, light must be transmitted through this film in order to view it, either when it is lit from behind or projected through the films image onto a viewing screen.

Color negative refers to film designed to produce a reverse color image that requires subsequent printing onto photo-sensitive material, generally paper used in making photographic prints, in order to view the true colors as a positive image.

Daguerreotype is an obsolete photographic process in which a picture made on a silver surface sensitized with iodine was developed by exposure to mercury vapor. It can also be a picture made by this process.

Emulsion side is the side of the film or photographic paper that has the emulsion coating on it. The emulsion side of film is recognized by being dull, whereas the emulsion side of paper is shiny.

Field camera is a type of camera that is essentially identical to a portable view camera, because it functions in a similar way and makes use of similar control features. A view camera is the large format, studio camera most commonly used by photographers.