History
What is a Cibachrome or Ilfochrome print?
Dye destruction printing made vibrant positive color prints from transparencies by selectively removing dyes in the print material.
The V&A describes dye destruction printing as a color process using three emulsion layers sensitive to different primary colors. The material was exposed from a color transparency, and dye in each layer was destroyed or retained to form the final image.
The process was formerly called Cibachrome and later Ilfochrome
The process was formerly called Cibachrome and later Ilfochrome. That name change matters when reading a collection record: the image may be described by a historical brand name or by the broader process category.
Evidence: Wikipedia article
A digital booth’s color image comes from sensor data and a printer
A digital booth’s color image comes from sensor data and a printer or screen, not this transparency-to-print chemistry. The comparison helps prevent a vivid color appearance from being mistaken for evidence about how an image was produced.
Evidence: Wikipedia article
The material chain begins with a transparency
The material chain begins with a transparency, so the positive original and the finished paper print are separate objects. A print record can use the trade name or process family name, and both may be useful for searching museum catalogues. Do not infer the process only from saturated color; documentation is more reliable than appearance.
Evidence: Wikipedia article
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- Ilfochrome — WikipediaWikipedia article