1753 OPACITY to TRANSPARENCY -Gautam Shah
Transparency was a phenomenon that was difficult to perceive in absence of separable and applicable materials, such as, oil, water, wax natural gums, some other plant exudates and natural materials like amber, etc. Such materials were not intensively exploited. The materials were, classed more as opaque, but with degree of their translucency to transparency. Some light transmission qualities were confused with the textural surface qualities like gloss.
Transparent objects permit almost all the light to pass through the body, whereas, translucent materials occlude light and vision in various measures. When light strikes translucent materials, it changes the direction due to the scattering. Scattering of light from the inside (underside of the surface of a baked ceramic item), introduced the concept of gloss. Distinctive transparency was realized with the production and polishing of the glass.
Historically, Romans were first to use small polished glass disks in roofs to lighten up the deep interiors. As the glass disks were small, Romans assembled several such disks in a wood frame. But by this time, many cultures had realized the value of transparency of light, with the materials, like, thin or sheer fabrics, netting like woven or knitted fabrics, oiled papyrus, thin leathers like chamois or parchment, mica, alabaster and marble sheets, lattices, etc. The Gloss over polished metal materials, hard stones, or glazed ceramics was appreciated.
Transparency in various forms diffuses light, for softer interior environments, Transparent materials are light weight, less bulky, softer and delicate. Parchments, papers and films have helped tracing, reversing and duplication processes in design, painting, graphics, printing and merchandising. The ability to form see-through virtual layers is the basis for most of the computer programmes.
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