The word "autotype" (/'ɔːtə'taɪp/) is spelled with an "a-u-t-o", which means self or automatic, and "type", which refers to printing or typographic elements. Autotype refers to a printing process in which photographs are transferred onto a lithographic stone and printed using the photochemical process. This process was commonly used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While the process has largely been replaced by digital printing, the word autotype remains in use today.
Autotype, also known as autotypography, refers to a method of printing or reproducing images, particularly large-scale photographic prints, through a technique that involves the use of multiple colored ink layers. Autotype is a photomechanical process that was commonly employed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for the purpose of creating high-quality reproductions of photographs.
The autotype process begins with a transparency or a glass plate on which the desired image is captured using photographic techniques. This transparency is then placed on a sensitized gelatin sheet, which acts as the receiving medium. The gelatin sheet is coated with a light-sensitive pigment, usually composed of bitumen or dichromated gelatin. When exposed to light, the pigment hardens the gelatin in proportion to the amount of light it receives.
After exposure, the gelatin sheet is soaked in a warm water bath, which dissolves the unexposed and softer areas of the gelatin. The remaining hardened gelatin then becomes a relief image, with the varying depth corresponding to the tonal values of the original photograph. Different colored inks are then applied to the relief surface, adhering only to the raised areas, and subsequently transferred onto a final support material, such as paper or canvas.
Autotype prints are characterized by their remarkable tonal range and the ability to reproduce subtle details and gradations, making them highly valued in the field of fine art and photography. However, the autotype process has largely been replaced by modern digital printing techniques, which offer greater convenience and control in the reproduction of images.
The word autotype is derived from two root words: auto and type.
1. Auto comes from the Greek word autos, meaning self or same. It is often used to indicate self-operation, self-control, or automatic functioning.
2. Type originates from the Latin word typus, which means figure or impression. It refers to a character or letter that represents a particular sound or concept, as well as the process of printing using moveable type.
Therefore, when combined, autotype essentially means self-impression or self-representation.