Andlitsmyndin er orðin skýr eftir framköllunina.
The portrait has become clear after the development.
Breakdown of Andlitsmyndin er orðin skýr eftir framköllunina.
vera
to be
verða
to become; will be
eftir
after / for (waiting for)
skýr
clear
Questions & Answers about Andlitsmyndin er orðin skýr eftir framköllunina.
How does the 'vera orðinn' construction work with the adjective 'skýr' in this sentence?
This construction expresses a completed change of state. It emphasizes that the development process is finished and the portrait is currently clear as a result. Both the participle orðin and the adjective skýr are in the nominative case to match the subject.
Why is the past participle spelled orðin here instead of the default orðið?
In the vera orðinn construction, the past participle declines to agree with the subject in gender, number, and case. Because andlitsmyndin is a feminine singular noun in the nominative case, the participle takes the feminine singular nominative form orðin.
Could I just say 'Andlitsmyndin varð skýr'? What is the difference in meaning?
You could, but it changes the aspect. Using the simple past varð skýr just states that it became clear at a specific time in the past. Using er orðin skýr emphasizes the present state: the process of becoming clear is complete, and the picture is clear right now.
Why is framköllunina in the accusative case, and what is its literal meaning?
The preposition eftir takes the accusative case when it means 'after' in a temporal sense. The noun itself is made up of fram (forward) and köllun (calling). Literally a 'calling forward', this is the standard Icelandic term for developing a photograph.