Autochrome Lumière

Patented in 1903 by the Lumière brothers in France and first marketed in 1907, the Autochrome was one of the few commercially successful additive color processes, available since 1907 until 1935.

Autochromes are color transparencies on glass plates that are viewed either in special viewers called diascopes or projected onto a screen. They were also commonly placed on window panes using a brass frame with two suspension hooks.


Autochromes were made by coating a glass plate with a mosaic of minute potato starch grains dyed to approximate the primary additive colors of light. This was then coated with a panchromatic silver emulsion. Exposed in a camera so that the color mosaic filtered the light before it reached the emulsion layer, the plate was processed to create a black-and-white positive. This, in combination with the color mosaic, created a photographic image in natural colors.



All the information about this early color process you can find here

Many thanks to David Joyall, Senior Photographer at NEDCC who kindly gave me the Autochromes from his collection to illustrate this post.

Week 1 (September 19 - 23)

Day 1 (Monday, September 19)

• Process ID

1. Cased photographs: Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype
2. Photographic prints: Salted Paper Prints, Albumen POP, Glossy Collodion POP, Matte Collodion POP, Gelatin Silver POP, Gelatin Silver DOP, Platinum Print
3. Photomechanical prints: Letterpress Halftone, Collotype, Photogravure
   

Day 2 (Tuesday, September 20)

• Before treatment photo documentation of 10 damaged prints

• Surface cleaning of damaged photographs

1. Dry cleaning with Vulcanized rubber sponge, Eraser crumbs and Polyvinyl eraser
2. Cleaning with solvents (Water, Water and Ethanol, Ethanol)
   

Day 3 (Wednesday, September 21)

• Conservation treatments of damaged photographs

1. Reinforcing the corners with Starch paste and Japanese paper RK-27
2. Reinforcing the tears in the paper support with Starch paste and Japanese paper RK-27
3. Washing in filtered water
   

Day 4 (Thursday, September 22)

• Conservation treatments of damaged photographs

1. Removing the photograph from the secondary support
2. Light bleaching to reduce the staining
3. Making inserts for losses using Japanese paper RK-29
4. Toning of the inserts harmonious with the surrounding areas
5. Electrocleaning of the Daguerreotypes
   

Day 5 (Friday, September 23)

• Conservation treatments of damaged photographs

1. Lining of the photograph and old mount's facing paper with Starch paste and Japanese paper RK-27
2. Making Daguerreotype housing (Modern Adaptation of the Robert Cornelius housing designed by George Eastman House Conservation Department)