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from the group: Instant (Diffusion Transfer)

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Pre-photographic

Intaglio
Planographic
Relief

Photomechanical

Collotype
Letterpress
Offset Lithography
Photogravure
Rotogravure
Woodburytype

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

Electrophotography
Inkjet
Thermal

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Notes on this view:

Originally coined “one-step photography” by Polaroid inventor Edwin Land, instant film was first available to the public in 1948. Continuous improvements and variations were applied to Polaroid instant film products until the company’s withdrawal from the market in 2008. This print is an example of Type 107 film, the first line of black and white peel-apart pack films. Introduced in 1963, pack films were easier to load than Polaroid roll films and allowed pictures to be developed outside the camera. Previous films were developed inside the camera, forcing photographers to wait at least 60 seconds between exposures to ensure adequate processing time.

This print is 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches, a common size for pack film. The photograph was taken by an amateur using on-camera flash. It is one of a series documenting various aspects of this vault door.