Film stocks

Film stocks are the physical materials used to record images in traditional film photography or filmmaking. They consist of a plastic base coated with light-sensitive chemicals called emulsion, which captures light to create images when exposed through a camera. Different types of film stocks vary in characteristics such as color (color or black-and-white), contrast, grain, and sensitivity to light (ISO). Filmmakers choose specific stocks to achieve desired visual effects and moods, as each film stock reacts uniquely to light and color. Although digital technology has largely replaced film stocks, they remain valued for their distinct aesthetic qualities.