printing-out paper

n. Photographic paper in which the image is formed through the action of light alone.

Notes

Printing-out papers were prevalent from the invention of photography through most of the 19th century. A negative was sandwiched between glass and a sheet of printing-out paper in a frame, and the whole was then placed in the sun. The light slowly changed the silver halide to metallic silver. The photographer could monitor the printing progress in reduced light by pulling the paper away from the negative; if more exposure was needed, the sandwich was returned to sunlight to continue printing. After exposure, the prints were fixed to halt further development. Printing-out papers produce images that are a purplish brown and were usually toned to a purple black. Unfixed printing-out paper, often used for portrait proof prints, are often rust-colored and show signs of silver mirroring. Eastman Kodak marketed printing-out paper under the name Studio Proof, intended specifically for portrait proofs.

Citations

Horrigan 2003, p. 411 Portrait photographers submitted proofs to customers on unfixed printing-out paper that would darken completely in a week or two. This prevented a customer's keeping the proofs as 'good enough,' and not ordering finished prints.