photographic plate

A photographic plate is a flat surface coated with a light-sensitive material used to capture images before modern film and digital cameras were invented. When exposed to light, the coating changes chemically, allowing an image to be recorded. After exposure, the plate is developed in a darkroom with special chemicals to reveal the photograph. These plates were pivotal in the early days of photography and were used for both artistic and scientific purposes, capturing everything from landscapes to medical images. Their invention marked a significant advancement in the ability to preserve visual information.