collodion

1 9.9

A clear sticky liquid that makes a hard film on wounds or old photographs

noun
/kəˈloʊdiən/

Specialized

: colodión

We had made a commitment to travel up to the Wawona part of Yosemite that morning to demonstrate the 19th-century collodion process to a school group from Turlock.
wet collodion
collodion plate
collodion process

Examples

As the Brady project continued, I spent considerable time trying to improve my skill at the wet-collodion process.

Academic text (2004)
It was not until Frederick Scott Archer introduced a new photographic technique that required shorter exposures (the collodion, or "wet plate process") that aerial photography became a true possibility.

Academic text (2017)
Albumen print from a collodion negative.

Academic text (2005)
I needed to find a way to clean glass plates to achieve proper adhesion of the collodion.

Academic text (2004)
A few days earlier, it had been the scene of great activity as we three collodion artists made ready all the gear and chemicals necessary to achieve our goal.

Academic text (2002)
Using the wet-plate collodion process, the only difference was that the ferrotype was made on a thin sheet of iron enameled black or brown.

Academic text (2004)
These men, along with Muybridge, Fisk, Reilly, and Bierstadt that followed them, worked in the process called wet plate collodion.

Academic text (2002)
In keeping with the integrity of the wet-plate collodion process, LB has chosen to publish Steber's tintypes in their original form.

Blog text (33)
In August 1960 at Ansco (GAF), where I was employed, Plant Manager Harold Harsh advised me to get familiar with the wet-collodion process because the company wanted to feature it during the upcoming centennial of the Civil War.

Academic text (2004)
The doctor applied a layer of collodion to protect the wound from infection.

Surface Forms

collodion singular

collodions plural

Etymology

The word collodion comes from the Greek word kolla, which means 'glue', because collodion is a sticky, glue-like liquid used to coat wounds or photographic plates. That's why a thin layer of collodion works like a clear seal or protective film.