Photographic Plates

Photographic plates are thin sheets, usually made of glass, coated with a light-sensitive material that captures images. Before digital photography, these plates were a primary way to record photographs. When exposed to light, the coating would produce a latent image, which could be developed using chemicals to reveal the photograph. They were commonly used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for both artistic and scientific purposes, including astronomy and medicine. Although largely replaced by film and digital sensors today, photographic plates were crucial in advancing imaging technology.