An
anti-halation backing is a layer found in most
photographic films. It is usually a coating on the back of the
film base, but sometimes it is incorporated between the light-sensitive
emulsion and the base. The light that passes through the emulsion is absorbed by the anti-halation layer. This prevents any light from being reflected back through the emulsion from the rear surface of the base, or from anything behind the film, and causing a
halo-like effect around bright points or edges in the image. The anti-halation layer is rendered transparent or washed out (as in
K-14 films) during
processing of the film.