SPECULAR Like a mirror, reflecting in a regular manner so that clear images may be formed, nondiffusing.

SPOT A contraction of spotlight ; a lamp which projects a narrow, strong beam of light. (Verb) To remove spots from photographic prints, sometimes called "positive retouching" or"print retouching."

SQUEEGEE (l) A rubber blade mounted in a holder which, when drawn over the surface of a wet film or paper, removes the surface liquid. (2) Rollers used for the same purpose. (3) On continuous processing machines, air squeegees may be used that remove surface liquid by either suction or by blowing air against material being processed.

STAIN A local or general discoloration of negatives and prints.

STEP TEST (l) A series of exposures made with gradual increases in illumination used to determine proper exposure conditions. (2) To test for contrast or latitude, you can use a step wedge in a single exposure. (NMA)

STOP BATH A stop bath is an acid solution used to arrest development by neutralizing the alkaline developer with which the photographic material is saturated as it leaves the developing bath.

STROBE Designates an electronic flash lamp.

SUBTRACTIVE PRIMARIES The three printing colors used in three-color subtractive color processes: magenta (minus green), cyan (minus red), and yellow (minus blue-violet). (PIA)

SYNCHROFLASH Photographic arrangement whereby a photoflash lamp is timed to provide illumination at the instant when the camera shutter is wide open.

TIME BASE CORRECTOR (TBC) An electronic accessory to a videotape recorder that helps make playbacks or transfers electronically stable. A TBC helps to maintain picture stability even in dubbing-up operations.

TIME TEMPERATURE CHART A table showing the optimum time of development at the standard temperature for various photographic materials in a given developer or for different times of development in order to obtain equivalent development at nonstandard temperatures. (PIA)

TONE (l) In a photographic negative or print, the degree of lightness or darkness of the various parts of the image. (2) A term applied to the color of the image in a photographic print; that is, warm, cold, sepia, and so forth.