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from the group: Ambrotype

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Pre-photographic

Photomechanical

Photographic

Albumen
Ambrotype
Bromoil
Bromoil Transfer
Carbon
Carbro
Chromogenic
Collodion POP
Cyanotype
Daguerreotype
Direct Carbon (Fresson)
Dye Imbibition
Gelatin Dry Plate
Gelatin POP
Gum Dichromate
Instant (Diffusion Transfer)
Instant (Dye Diffusion Transfer)
Instant (Internal Dye Diffusion Transfer)
Matte Collodion
Platinum
Salted Paper
Screen Plate
Silver Dye Bleach
Silver Gelatin DOP
Tintype
Wet Plate Collodion

Digital

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Notes on this view:

In 1854, American photographer and inventor James Ambrose Cutting developed a method for adhering two pieces of glass together using Canada balsam (resin). Though meant as a way to hermetically seal the ambrotypes as a preservation method, the process was ultimately unnecessary as the varnish layer itself worked extremely well as a protectant. In fact, ambrotypes that utilized Cutting's patent are known to exhibit deterioration caused by the technique, as seen in the yellowish-green hue of this image. Interestingly, Cutting's lasting contribution to the ambrotype was his naming of the process, which was taken from the Greek word meaning "imperishable" and suggested to him by fellow photographer Marcus A. Root. Cutting changed his middle name to Ambrose in honor of the process later in his life.