Use and Consumption of Silver in Photographic Applications in the Printing Industry

Paper presented at a symposium on “Photography in the Printing Industry” organized by the Scientific & Technical Group of The Royal Photographic Society, 13-16 September 1983 at New College, Oxford.

Abstract

Silver is chemically and economically the single most important raw material in the manufacture of high speed photographic films and papers. Volatile silver prices and ecological constraints have caused photographic manufacturers and their customers to focus on reduced usage, reduced consumption via recycling, and replacement of silver. The authors present a detailed analysis of use of silver in photographic products for the printing industry. Applications in newspapers and in commercial colour reproduction are dealt with as examples. Current developments in recycling of silver are described and a new processing machine with built-in silver recovery and low fixer consumption is presented in detail. Five technological developments in the graphic arts that have or will have considerable impact on the use of silver are explained. The authors build a solid foundation under their projections that consumption of silver in photography in general, and in the printing industry in particular, is declining despite increased usage in some market segments.

Notes

Paper presented at a symposium on “Photography in the Printing Industry” organized by the Scientific & Technical Group of The Royal Photographic Society, 13-16 September 1983 at New College, Oxford.