Sepia Effect

Sepia refers to a photograph or picture that uses a brown monochromatic color set. If used appropriately, sepia filters can add a rustic, dramatic charm to even mundane subjects.

History

According to the Oxford Dictionary of Art, sepia tone resulted from the use of pigments from the Sepia cuttlefish. Early true black and white pictures could not be made with appropriate levels of contrast, so sepia was used instead.

Effects

Sepia effects, either digital or with film, can add warmth and life to a picture. Cool color monochrome effects do the opposite. In contrast with full-color pictures, sepia photos show depth and definition better than their colored counterparts.

Preservation

Real sepia photos (those developed with cuttlefish pigments) fade less than normal black-and-white photos, which is another reason that sepia photos evoke
age--more of them still exist in good condition.

Portraits

Since most early photographs could not capture motion well, the photographic genre of portraits emerged early on in the history of photography. Many photographers still use sepia tones in portraits to evoke a classic feel.

Times to Avoid

If the style and locales of images are very modern, using a sepia effect can create a sense of dissonance in the viewer, and generally (though not always) should be avoided.

References

• How to Use Sepia Tones
• When to Use Sepia in Portraits?
• Oxford Dictionary of Art - Sepia