Ilensi yengilazi yelensi eshintsha umbala iqukethe inani elithile le-silver chloride, i-sensitizer nethusi. Ngaphansi kwesimo sokukhanya okufushane kwamagagasi, kungabola kube ama-athomu esiliva nama-athomu e-chlorine. Ama-athomu e-chlorine awanambala kanti ama-athomu esiliva anombala. Ukuhlangana kwama-athomu esiliva kungakha isimo se-colloidal, okuyilokho esikubona njengokuguquguquka kwe-lens. Lapho ukukhanya kwelanga kunamandla, ama-athomu esiliva engeziwe ahlukaniswa, i-lens izoba mnyama. Lapho ukukhanya kwelanga kuba buthakathaka, ama-athomu esiliva ambalwa ahlukaniswa, i-lens izoba lula. Akukho ukukhanya kwelanga okuqondile ekamelweni, ngakho-ke ama-lens angabi nombala.