Figure 1.--Autochrome was the firstvpractical color film process developed in 1902. HBC had intitially thought that these French children were probably photographed after World War I. Based on corresoundence with a photograph collector, we know that the photograph was taken in 1913. The high-top shoes the children wear are an indicator that it is a 1910s image and not a post-war image.

The Autochrome process was invented by the Auguste and Louis Lumière in 1904 and was the world’s first practical color process. This example here of a group of three French children probably dates from the late 1930s. They replaced the screen used by Joly with color dots. These were made from colored potato starch particles which had a diameter of only 15/1000 of a millimeter. The screen processes, good as they were, also had their faults. They were relatively insensitive. This meant that it could only be used in bright sunshine. When all went well with the exposure and processing and the results were then stored properly, the process bequeathed us some surprisingly vivid and fresh-looking images.

Invention

The Autochrome process was invented by Auguste and Louis Lumière and was the world’s first practical color process (1904). Their process reached the market in 1907. This example here of a group of three French children probably dates from the late 1930s (figure 1).

The Process

The Lumière brothers replaced the screen used by Joly with color dots. These were made from colored potato starch particles which had a diameter of only 15/1000 of a millimeter. These were first colored in batches of orange-red, green and cyan. After complete drying, these colored powders were mixed such that the resulting powder did not show any discernable color at all. Then, this mixture was applied to a sticky glass plate with a very fine haired brush. This had to be done very carefully to obtain a single layer of the starch particles. The resulting open spaces between these particles were closed with pulverized charcoal. With 3 years of further research, they were able to devise a commercially feasible process to produce these plates for the photography market in 1907. It is interesting to note that the emulsions of these plates were only about twice as thick as those of modern color films.

Limitations

The screen processes, good as they were, also had their faults. They were relatively insensitive. This meant that it could only be used in bright sunshine. One source report that the Autochrome process, for instance, required 50 times more exposure than the black and white emulsions which it was used with. An HBC reader researching Autochromes reports that autochrome was rated at ASA 4 and that the fastest emulsion at the time was around ASA 125. This suggess that the exposure would be 5 times greater. He asks, "Am I right? or am I missing something in my calculation?" [Walker ] Here HBC is unsure and would be interested in any reader insights on this matter. Another problem with autochrome was that the images could not be enlarged very much without showing the screen texture.

Figure 2.--This image gives a better idea as to what an Autchrome print actually looked like in the 1910s.

Quality

One of the fascinating aspects of the internet is the interesting people that it allows you to meet. We received the message from a HBC reader Russ Karas: I happened on the "Color Photography" page of your Boys' Historical Clothing site in the course of a search on photographic topics. In case you don't already have it, attached is the mate to the Autochrome plate you illustrate. This shot cuts everyone off at the knees but is a much better representation of the color rendition typical of early Autochromes. When all went well with the exposure and processing and the results were then stored properly, the process bequeathed us some surprisingly vivid and fresh-looking images. Unfortunately, they are difficult to rephotograph and reproductions usually give the impression that murky, muted color is the best that it could do. Both of these plates were sold on eBay last year, but not to me. The one attached was said by the seller to date from 1913, this apparently derived from a label on the binding tape. To my inexpert eye this date seems correct for the girls' outfits.

Discontinued

Autochrome was the only color film on the market until the German Agfa company introduced the similar Agfacolor (1932). A reader tells us, "According to my references, Autochrome plates were discontinued in 1932, although a film-based version (Lumiere Filmcolor) was introduced at about the same time and was evidently still in use in France as late as 1942. I collect specimens of early color processes, but regret to report that I have nothing else showing boys' clothing -- since this seems to have rarely been very colorful, and since boys are naturally ill-disposed to hold still for the long exposures which pre-1930s color materials required, boys are a very uncommon subject in these media." [Russ]

Sources

Karas, Russ. e-Mail.

Walker, Scott. e-Mail, February 20, 2003.

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Created: September 7, 2001
Last updated: 10:16 PM 5/18/2008