Image Gallery

Photography Timeline

TRADITIONAL PHOTOS
Daguerreotype 1839 to 1865 Most popular from early 1840s to 1860. Image consists of silver amalgam (highlights) and pure silver (shadows) on a silver-coated copper plate; mirror-like surface; usually encased (in America), often hand-colored with pigments.
Salted Paper Print 1840 to 1890s Most popular from 1840 to 1855. Silver image on uncoated paper support; matte surface; purplish-brown, red-brown, or yellow-brown hue.
Albumen Print 1850 to 1920 Most popular from 1855 to 1895. Silver image in an albumen (egg white) binder on a thin paper support; uniform gloss; purplish-brown, red-brown or yellow-brown hue.
Ambrotype 1855 to 1865 Most popular in late 1850s. Silver image in a collodion binder on an opaque glass support; usually encased.
Tintype 1856 to 1920s Most popular in 1860s. Silver image in a collodion binder on a thin sheet of lacquered iron; some cased, usually in paper mats; dull gray with creamy white highlights.
Cyanotype 1840s to 1920 Most popular from 1880 to 1920s. Iron salts on uncoated paper support; matte surface; blue image.
Carbon Print 1860s to 1940s Most popular from 1870s to early 1900s. Image formed by pigmented gelatin layer on paper support; differential gloss between dark and white areas; a variety of image colors possible.
Platinotype 1880 to 1930 Platinum image on uncoated paper support; matte surface; neutral image hue; characteristic image transfer.
Gelatin Printing-Out Paper 1885 to 1920 Most popular from 1895 to 1905. Silver image in a gelatin binder on paper support; glossy surface; warm or purplish-brown hue.
Glossy Collodion Printing-Out Paper 1885 to 1920 Most popular from 1895 to 1905. Silver image in a collodion binder on paper support; glossy surface; warm or purplish-brown hue; very sensitive to abrasion.
Matte Collodion Printing-Out Paper 1894 to 1920s Most popular from 1895 to 1910. Silver image in a collodion binder on a paper support, toned with gold and platinum; semi-matte surface; near-neutral or greenish-black image hue; characteristic image transfer.
Gelatin Developing-Out Paper, Fiber-base 1885 to present Most popular from late 1890s to 1960. Silver image in a gelatin binder on a fiber-base paper support; surface from glossy to matte; near-neutral image hue during 19th century, neutral to warm hues and great variety of textures during 20th century; probable silver mirroring.
Silver Diffusion Print (Black-and-White Polaroid) 1948 to present Most popular from 1950s to 1960s. Silver image on a fiber base or RC paper with receiving layer; glossy surface.
Chromogenic Color Print 1942 to present Most popular from 1960 to 1990s. Dye in gelatin binder on fiber base or RC paper support or acetate or polyester support; from matte to glossy surface.
Dye Diffusion Print ("Instant Photos") 1963 to present Most popular from 1970s to 1980s. Dye image on RC paper coated with a receiving layer; glossy surface.
Gelatin Developing-Out Paper, RC base Late 1960s to present Most popular from 1980s to 1990s. Silver image in a gelatin binder on RC paper support; from matte to glossy surface; variety of textures; neutral to warm hues; possible silver mirroring.
DIGITAL PHOTOS
Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer Print Late 1980s to present Also called "dye sub." Instant kiosk prints, many 5 x 7 or smaller home printers; dye image on RC paper with receiving layer; glossy or luster.
Electrophotographic Color Print Early 1990s to present Photocopiers and laser printers; image formed by pigment in resin on uncoated (matte) or cast coated (glossy) paper.
Chromogenic Color Print from Digital Exposure 1990s to present Dye in gelatin binder on RC paper, polyester, or acetate film; from matte to glossy surface.
Photo-Quality Inkjet Print 1990s to present Dye or pigment image on coated paper; from matte to glossy surface.