ABSTRACT
The unique visual qualities of the Sabattier effect are the result of a combination of chemical reactions. A piece of ordinary photographic paper is exposed normally, and at some point during the development process the print is reexposed to light. The dark areas, shadows, of the print are affected little by this reexposure, because most of the silver halides in these areas have already been converted to metallic silver by the first exposure and development. The bright areas, or highlights, still contain unexposed or slightly exposed and undeveloped silver halides, which remain light-sensitive. These can still be converted to metallic silver through additional exposure and further development. The result is a darkening of these highlight areas to a light or very dark gray, depending upon how much they were reexposed and redeveloped.
