Abel Niépce de Saint-Victor had enough with the idea that photographs needed to be developed with the aid of paper. Instead in 1847 he devised a method where glass could be used instead. The new solution of Silver Bromide as discovered by Hippolyte Fizeau would adhere to the glass. Then, this solution would be mixed with albumen, otherwise known as egg whites. The images were much sharper than earlier in time forcing the industry to then consider developing lenses with higher definition capabilities.
Another man by the named of Scott Archer made new develops in this field of developing with glass. Instead of the new albumen solution, Archer utilized collodion as a new solution. Collodion has is considered to be the base of gun-cotton. The black and white images that developed because of this gun-cotton base were very high quality. Such quality was unheard of. The collodion unfortunately needed to be “humid” while on the plate and the process of developing must begin right after the exposure to light began.
Health-Ade Photography 