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.