Difference between revisions of "Wet-collodion"
m |
|||
Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
[[Category: Photographic processes]] | [[Category: Photographic processes]] | ||
− | * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collodion_process | + | ==Links== |
+ | |||
+ | * [http://www.cwreenactors.com/phorum/ Wet Plate Collodion Forum] | ||
+ | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collodion_process Wikipedia] |
Revision as of 17:27, 30 April 2011
wet-plate camera with brass lens made by Charles Louis Chevalier image by Roman Art (Image rights) |
Wet-Collodion is a negative-positive photographic process using potassium iodide dissolved with collodion - a solution of gun-cotton in ether. Gun-cotton is made by treating cotton wool with nitric acid, producing nitro-cellulose; nitro-cellulose was later used as a flexible film base.
The potassium iodide/collodion solution is spread onto glass plates, where the ether evaporates. Before the ether completely evaporates, the plates are sensitized in a bath of silver nitrate solution. Plates had to be exposed whilst still wet, so the plate preparation had to be done immediately before use; this meant that outside the studio, photographers had to carry a small tent with a supply of plates, sensitization bath and bottles of the solutions.
The process was invented in 1850, and published in 1851 by Frederick Scott Archer, although a Frenchman, Gustave Le Gray may have discovered the process at around the same time.