Photographic Process Chronology

Page Information
Date initiated	June 2025
Contributors	Luisa Casella

Purpose

This page will be added to as possible with the goal of creating as exhaustive a chronology of photographic processes as possible.

Chronology

Year	Process/ Advancement	Country	Other names	Notes/ Links
1717	Johann Heinrich Schulze	Germany		Observed the darkening of silver nitrate (mixed with various substances) as a result to the exposure to light
1826	Heliography	France	Bitumen of Judea	Earliest permanent photographic process by Nicéphore Niépce.
1839	Salt Print	UK	Salted Paper Print	First paper-based photographic print process by W.H.F. Talbot.
1839	Daguerreotype	France		Direct positive image on silver-plated copper; introduced by Louis Daguerre.
1842	Cyanotype	UK		Iron-based photographic process invented by Sir John Herschel.
1850	Albumen Print	France		Egg white binder on paper; most common 19th-century print process.
1851	Hillotype	USA		Earliest known attempt to produce direct color photographic prints.
1851	Wet Plate Collodion	UK		Glass negative process invented by Frederick Scott Archer.
1854	Ambrotype	USA		Positive image on glass using the collodion process.
1855	Heliochrome	France		Color photograph produced by direct exposure through color filters—Levi Hill.
1856	Tintype	USA	Ferrotype	Inexpensive direct positive on iron plate.
1861	Separation Positives with RGB Filters	UK	Tartan Ribbon projection	James Clerk Maxwell demonstrates additive color using three separation positives.
1862	Carbon Transfer	France	Ducos du Hauron	Pigment-based color process using carbon tissue.
1864	Woodburytype	UK		Photomechanical pigment printing with molded gelatin relief.
1864	Carbon Print	UK		Stable pigment print using bichromated gelatin.
1868	Louis Ducos du Hauron’s Subtractive Color Process	France		Theoretical basis for modern subtractive color photography.
1868	Heliochrome (Hillotype)	USA		Direct color photograph created by Levi Hill using unknown means; considered controversial.
1870	Collotype	Germany		Photomechanical process using gelatin on a lithographic stone.
1873	Platinum Print	UK	Platinotype	High tonal range and permanence using platinum salts.
1873	Herman Vogel discovers the sensitizing effect of adding dyes to photographic emulsions, expanding range of spectral sensitivity	Germany
1879	Photogravure	France		Intaglio printing of continuous tone images from a plate.
1880	Letterpress Halftone	USA		First method to reproduce photographs in printed books and newspapers.
1881	Hydrotype	Unknown		Dye imbibition process—early color printing method.
1885	Collodion POP Print	Europe		Printing-out paper coated with collodion and silver salts.
1889	Gelatin POP Print	USA/UK		Printing-out paper with gelatin binder; contact printing process.
1889	Photochrom	Switzerland	Aäc et Cie	Photomechanical color printing from black-and-white negatives.
1891	Lippmann Plate	France		Interference-based color photography using a mercury reflector.
1891	Lippmann Interference Process	France		Direct color photography using light interference; requires mercury mirror.
1891	Lippmann Process	France	Lippmann Photochrome	Interference-based direct color photography using mercury.
1894	Photochrom	Switzerland		Photomechanical color process using lithography and multiple stones.
1895	Silver Gelatin Print (DOP)	UK	Gelatin Silver Print	Developing-out paper with silver halide and gelatin.
1895	Matte Collodion Print	Europe		Collodion binder with matte finish; used for enlargements.
1895	Ives’ Kromskop (Chromoscope)	USA		Apparatus for viewing three-color separation transparencies.
1897	McDonough Screen Plate	UK		Screen plate process using dyed starch grains.
1902	Arthur Traube and Adolf Miethe co-patented panchromatic sensitization	Germany
1904	Autochrome patent	France		Patent filed by Lumière Brothers for screen plate process.
1905	Utochrome	Germany		Unsuccessful screen plate process prior to Autochrome.
1904 or 1906	Panchromatic Emulsions	Germany		Sensitive to all visible light wavelengths; improved tonal accuracy.
1906	Offset Lithography	USA		Commercial printing process using plates and rubber rollers.
1907	Silver Image to Color Image	Germany	Homolka's demonstration	Homolka demonstrates ability to make a colored image from a silver image.
1907	Autochrome	France		Commercially introduced by the Lumière Brothers.
1911	Color Development Process	Germany		Patented by Fischer and Siegrist.
1912	Cabro	USA		Carbon tissue process variant using diazo development.
1912	Rotogravure	Germany		High-speed intaglio printing of photographic images in magazines.
1916	Agfa Color	Germany		Multilayer subtractive color film development by Agfa.
1916	Dufaycolor	France/UK		Screen plate color process using RGB mosaic filter.
1919	Tri-color Carbro	USA/UK		Pigment transfer process using three black-and-white separation negatives.
1924	Dufaycolor	France/UK		Screen plate process with RGB mosaic filter.
1928	Kodachrome (Motion Picture)	USA		Early Kodachrome version used in motion picture film.
1932	Technicolor Monopack	USA		Single-strip color motion picture film stock.
1933	Technicolor (3-color)	USA		Major motion picture 3-color dye transfer system.
1935	Eastman Wash-Off Relief	USA		Introduced as a dye transfer process.
1935	Kodachrome	USA		First modern multilayer subtractive color film.
1935	Agfa Dye Diffusion (Research)	Germany		Wilhelm Schneider solves dye diffusion using long-chain molecules.
1936	Kodachrome	USA		Introduced for still photography in 35mm format.
1936	Agfacolor-Neu	Germany		Introduced as a reversal film in 35mm cartridges.
1936	Agfacolor Neu	Germany		Integrated color reversal film with incorporated color couplers.
1936	Agfacolor	Germany		Color film with incorporated dye couplers.
1936	Dufaycolor	France/UK		Color screen process with mosaic filter pattern.
1938	Kodachrome Improved	USA		Technology improved for greater dye stability via selective re-exposure.
1938	Electrophotography	USA	Xerography	Dry photocopy process invented by Chester Carlson.
1938	Kodachrome	USA		Introduced in cut-sheet sizes.
1940	Azocolor	Germany		Silver dye bleach process developed by Agfa.
1941	Kodachrome Prints	USA	Minicolor, Kotavachrome	Prints from Kodachrome transparencies made available on pigmented acetate base.
1942	Kodacolor	USA		Color negative and print system introduced.
1942	Minicolor	USA		Kodachrome-based print from 35mm slides.
1942	Chromogenic Color	USA		Uses dye couplers in film or paper for color image formation.
1945	Kodak Dye Transfer	USA		Improved replacement for Eastman Wash-Off Relief.
1946	Dye Imbibition/ Dye Transfer	USA		Color print process using matrix films and dye transfer.
1946	Kotavachrome	USA		Kodachrome-based print from cut-sheet film.
1946	Ektachrome	USA		Introduced by Kodak.
1948	Kodak Ektachrome Professional	USA		Commercial chromogenic slide film.
1949	Agfacolor	Germany		Agfacolor negative film and Agfacolor Paper marketed.
1955	Anscochrome	USA		Slide film introduced by Ansco; similar to Ektachrome.
1955	Kodachrome Cut-Sheet Discontinued	USA		Discontinued in favor of Ektachrome cut-sheet film.
1955	Kodak Type C Paper	USA	Kodak Ektacolor Paper (from 1958)	Introduced as Kodak Color Print Material.
1958	Kodak Ektacolor Paper	USA		Renamed version of Kodak Color Print Material TYPE C.
1961	Kodachrome II	USA		Introduced as Process K-12 with improved emulsion layers.
1963	Cibachrome	Switzerland/UK		Silver dye bleach reversal print material.
1963	Polacolor	USA		Polaroid’s instant color film based on dye diffusion transfer.
1963	Dye Destruction/ Silver Dye-Bleach (Ilfochrome/Cibachrome)	Switzerland/UK		Reversal color print process with vibrant color and stability.
1963	Polacolor (Polaroid Color Instant Film)	USA		Diffusion transfer-based Polaroid instant color process.
1963	Polaroid Instant Color Film	USA		Integral instant color image system.
1968	RC Paper	USA		Introduction of Resin-Coated paper.
1970	GAF Chromogenic Film	USA	Ansco	Amateur color film branded under GAF.
1972	SX-70	USA	Polaroid SX-70	Integral instant color film system.
1972	Polaroid SX-70	USA		First fully integrated instant color film system.
1974	Kodachrome 25 and 64	USA		Introduced with Process K-14.
1976	Kodacolor II	USA		Improved chromogenic color negative film.
1981	Ektachrome 400	USA		High-speed color slide film.
1982	Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer (D2T2)	Japan/USA	Dye-sub	Digital color printing by heating dyes from a donor ribbon.
1983	Polachrome	USA		Polaroid instant slide film (positive transparency).
1990	Fuji Super G	Japan		High-quality chromogenic color negative film.
1990	Fuji Velvia	Japan		High-saturation color slide film; professional chromogenic reversal film.
1990	Chromogenic Print (RA-4 Process)	USA		Standard color print process used for color negative films.
1991	Ilfochrome	Switzerland/UK		Silver dye bleach material formerly known as Cibachrome.
1991	Ultrastable	USA		Pigment-based permanent color print process.
1995	Fujichrome Velvia 50	Japan		Popular professional reversal (slide) film with vivid color.
1995	Inkjet Printing (Dye-based)			Digital printing using aqueous dye inks.
1998	Dye Sublimation Printing			Digital color printing by vaporizing dyes onto coated paper.
2000	Laser Exposure Prints		Digital C-prints	Color prints made by laser exposure of RA-4 paper.
2003	Kodak Ektachrome Returns	USA		Revival of classic slide film with modern chemistry.
2003	Ektachrome Revived	USA		Kodak's re-introduction of Ektachrome slide film after earlier discontinuation.
2005	Pigment-based Inkjet Printing		Giclée	Digital printing with pigment inks; high permanence and color gamut.

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