I think the question is: How were early color photographs created?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AzMaphysics
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Color
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
Sign up Log in
2 replies · 4K views
AzMaphysics
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Earlier today, I was browsing a wonderful WWI inventory of color photographs when I stumbled upon some rather strange looking ones.If you go to the color picture gallery on the left side column of the page and then go to page two, you will see a few examples of what I am talking about. http://www.greatwar.nl/frames/default-hurley.html The photographs look almost like they were drawn. Why is this?

P.S. Sorry about not being able to post a direct link.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org

Discussion

Many of those "color" photos appear to be hand painted. This was the usual manner of coloring photos in that era.
 
One of the pages describes the process (unfortunately they seem to be displayed as frames so I don't know how to give a URL for the right page).

Basically they took fine starch particles (flour), dyed them in the 3 primary colours and mixed them evenly, then spread the mixture on a black and white photographic plate. When taking the photo the grains acted as colour filters, and when viewing it they colour the reflected light.

The URL points out the effect is indeed the same as a "pointilliste" style painting.

Many early (and not so early) "colour" photos were indeed hand coloured. I've got some photos of myself (taken in the UK in the 1950s) that were done that way. I can clearly remember the photographer writing notes on the colour of hair, eyes, clothes, etc after taking the pictures.
 
Last edited: