Definition of sepia

The word "sepia" originally refers to a type of ink made from the dried ink sac of a small cuttlefish known as the sepia officinalis. This ink was widely used by ancient Romans and Greeks as a writing material due to its dark, rich, and long-lasting color. The name "sepia" itself is derived from the Greek word for cuttlefish (σεπία), which reflects the historical association of the ink with the natural source material. Over time, the term "sepia" has also come to describe the brownish-gray hue of the ink, as well as photographs that have been toned with this type of ink or pigment. Today, sepia continues to be used in photography, graphic design, and digital image editing as a descriptive term for an image that has been processed to resemble the warm, muted tones of traditional sepia-toned prints. Additionally, the term "sepia" remains associated with the genus Sepia, which includes several species of cuttlefish known for their ink sacs.