Exploring

Inherent Vice: Film Supports

Final Image Materials

Silver Particles

This deteriorated nitrate negative exhibits silver mirroring.

In black and white negatives, transparencies, and films, the image is made up of silver particles suspended in the binder material. As in photographic prints, the silver particles are formed by the exposure and development (using chemicals) of light sensitive silver salts. In gelatin dry plate negatives and collodion glass plate negatives that were not coated with a varnish to protect the image, oxidation of the image is common, resulting in silver mirroring. In nitrate film, the byproducts of deterioration cause the silver image to fade.

Color Dyes

The color dyes used in autochromes are subject to fading. Color negatives and films—which use chromogenic color dyes and were produced on acetate and polyester bases—are subject to the same problems with dye fading and highlight staining as are color photographic prints. These materials are not permanent, and some older negatives are already faded to the extent that they cannot be printed. Cold or frozen storage of color materials is recommended to slow deterioration.

Review the Photographic Prints: Color/Digital section in Session 2 for more details on deterioration of color photographic materials.