Apollotype

Apollotype is a historical term used to describe one or more early photographic printing processes from the 19th century. The name appears in a limited number of sources, and descriptions vary enough that there is no single, universally accepted method called an apollotype today. In some accounts, it denotes a positive or reversible print produced on a light-sensitive surface, while in others it is described as a misapplied label for other contemporary techniques. Because surviving documentation is sparse and inconsistent, the exact meaning of apollotype remains uncertain.

The practice is poorly documented, and details about its origins or practitioners are unclear. Some references suggest it emerged in Europe and was used by a range of photographers, from amateurs to professionals. The term appears to have fallen out of use by the end of the 19th century or in the early 20th century, leaving only occasional mentions in historical catalogs and writings.

What is described in historical sources generally involves a light-sensitive surface—such as paper or glass—coated with an emulsion or chemical layer, exposed to an image through contact with a negative, and subjected to development or printing steps. The chemistry, materials, and exact workflow show notable variation across sources, contributing to the ambiguity surrounding the technique.

Today, apollotype is primarily of scholarly and museological interest as part of the broader history of early photographic experimentation. It is often discussed alongside other nineteenth-century processes such as daguerreotype, calotype, ambrotype, and albumen printing.