TechnologySeptember 1, 2026
diffractive
dih-FRAK-tiv
Definition
Referring to an effect that causes light to spread out and break into different colors or patterns when interacting with a surface, typically used to describe special holographic-like foil finishes.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'diffractus,' the past participle of 'diffringere,' meaning to break apart or shatter; it entered English in the 19th century to describe the scientific phenomenon of light waves bending around obstacles.
In the news
In this article, the term describes specific metallic foils and holographic finishes in the KURZ catalog that create colorful, light-splitting visual effects on packaging.
APPEARANCE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—See it Shine with Embellishment Visualization Tools
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