Bildträgers

Bildträgers is a term with historical significance in the context of early photography. It refers to the physical material onto which a photographic image was developed or transferred. This could be a variety of surfaces, depending on the specific photographic process and the desired outcome. Early photographic experiments often involved coating materials like glass plates, metal sheets (such as copper or tin), or even paper with light-sensitive chemicals.

In daguerreotypes, for instance, the image was formed on a polished silver-plated copper sheet, which served as the Bildträger. Wet collodion plates, a popular process in the mid-19th century, used glass as the Bildträger. The light-sensitive emulsion was coated onto the glass and exposed while wet. Later, albumen prints, which were common for cartes de visite and cabinet cards, utilized paper as the Bildträger, with a layer of albumen (egg white) applied to hold the photographic chemicals and provide a glossy surface. The choice of Bildträger influenced the detail, permanence, and aesthetic qualities of the final photograph. Understanding the Bildträger is crucial for appreciating the technical evolution of photography and the diverse range of historical photographic objects.