Alternative Process : Wet Plate Collodion

James Weber

Collodion prints were invented in 1851 by Fredrick Scott Archer, and the primary subject for them was people. The print negatives were made on glass. There are other types, such as an Ambrotype, is the glass with a black backing. Another type is the Tintype, which is a positive image printed onto metal that became popular in the Civil War. The Wet Plate Collodion process is eight steps, 3 of them are cutting, deburring and cleaning the glass. Then you pour the mixture on the plate and sensitize it. Then put the plate in silver nitrate for 3-5 minutes and developing it for 15-20 seconds after you take it out. Lastly, you fix the plate with potassium cyanide and watch it change from a blue negative into a warmer ambrotype.