Photographic Materials & Techniques

The history of photography began with the discovery of two fundamental principles: the projection of images through a camera obscura and the light sensitivity of certain substances, which undergo visible changes when exposed to light.

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Throughout history, numerous photographic materials and techniques have emerged. At Forgotten Photoplates, we specialize in uncovering old Dry Plates, which were widely used during the early 20th century.

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Below is a timeline of key advancements in photographic technology:

• 1839 – Daguerreotype: The first practical photographic process, using silver-coated copper plates.

• 1841 – Calotype (Talbotype): The first negative-positive process, allowing multiple prints on paper.

• 1851 – Wet Collodion Glass Plate: A sharp, detailed glass plate process that dominated the mid-19th century.

• 1871 – Dry Plate (Gelatine Silver Glass Plate): Pre-prepared plates, making photography more convenient.

• 1888 – Celluloid Roll Film: Introduced by Kodak, revolutionizing photography with flexible film.

• 1907 – Autochrome: The first commercially successful colour photography process.

• 1935 – Kodachrome: A major advancement in colour transparency film.

• 1948 – Polaroid (Instant Film): Enabled instant photography without a darkroom.

• 1963 – Cibachrome (Ilfochrome): Known for its high-quality, durable colour prints.

• 1980s – Digital Sensors (CCD & CMOS): Marked the transition from film to digital photography.