PMG Uvatype, Uvachrome, Vitacolor

Page Information
Date initiated	February 2025
Contributors	Luisa Casella

Uvatype, Uvachrome, Vitacolor

Uvachrome is a subtractive 3 color dye imbibition process. It can present as a transparency or a print.

Historical Facts

Main Dates of Use

1922-1931

Patented

Patented by German chemist Dr. Arthur Traube in 1916.

Important Development Dates

Arthur Traube found that copper toing baths could be used as a dye mordant and patented the Uvachrome method in 1916. Traube subsequently founded Uvachrom Aktiengesellschaft (Uvachrom A.G.) in 1917 in Munich, Germany and the materials became commercially available in 1922.

Alternate Names

Uvatype, a variation of the dye imbibition process, was introduced by the Uvachrome Company of Germany in 1929.

The Uvachrome process replaced the earlier Diachrome process patented by Dr. Traube in 1906.

Historic Practitioners

Dr. Arthur Traube was the primary developer of the Uvachrome and Uvatype processes.

Additional Information

Dr. Traube was forced to sell the company in 1931 and immigrated to the United States. Uvatype materials were available from the Uvachrome Company until about 1935.

Identification Characteristics

Image layer

Uvatype prints were created by successively transferring dyes from relief matrices onto special baryta transfer paper engineered to prevent lateral dye diffusion.

Color

The process utilized subtractive three-color dye imbibition, resulting in full-color images.

Support

Special baryta transfer paper was used as the support for Uvatype prints.

Basic Process Overview

Diascope catalog

The Uvatype process involved printing three black and white separation negatives (through RGB filters) on celluloid films with silver bromide emulsion. The negatives were then immersed in a copper toner bath followed by a dye bath corresponding to the separation color (cyan bath for the red separation, magenta bath for the green separation, and yellow bath for the blue separation). The three layers were then either assembled in register as transparencies, bound between two glass plates; or transferred onto baryta paper to produce prints, resulting in full-color images. Uvachromes were used for three color reproduction in print media such as magazines, art reproduction or medical illustration. The transparencies were often viewed inside diascopes.

Housing and Storage

While specific storage guidelines for Uvachrome objects are not provided in the available sources, it is generally advisable to store photographic prints in a cool, dry environment, away from direct sunlight and pollutants, to prevent deterioration.

Emergency Recovery

In the event of water damage, it's important to air-dry prints as soon as possible, separating any that are stuck together.

Current Scholars, Researchers, Experts and Practitioners

• Dr. Hanin Hanouchhas been researching the Uvachrome

Relevant Collections

• George Eastman Museum - The Arthur Traube/Uvachrome Collection at the George Eastman Museum contains correspondence, patents, articles, and reproductions related to the Uvachrome and Uvatype processes.

References

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