What makes the "vintage" effect?

[nickzou]

Okay, so I know how to obtain that hipster vintage effect (at least in Photoshop). But I was wondering, what originally caused that effect? What was it about cameras of that era to distort the colours like that? Or am I completely off base about this. Can anyone shed some light on what's actually happening in the effect?

 

[Stradawhovious]

Time.

 

[y75stingray]

a lot of the time it was becuase improper chemicals were used when the film was developed by whatever place developed the photos.

 

[ann]

Not a matter of improper chemicals, a matter of color prints that fade. Color prints fade, it is the nature of the chemicals which are quite different that those used for black and white, and they are not considered to be archival. Dye transfer prints held up much better over time.

I don't remember the specific date, but many people in the late 50's tried to sue Kodak when they opened old wedding albums to discover the prints had faded.

If you read carefully the small print on inkjet papers you will often find a disclaimer about the length of time they will last, even Epson Exhibition FIber paper which is considered by many to be a high end inkjet paper. That is also why many use 100 percent cotton rag paper for printing; to ensure the life of the print, and even then one should take care on how they are mounted and placed on a wall with regard to direct sun light, etc.

 

[Ron Evers]

Light will bleach out colour. That is why flash is forbidden in museums displaying old paintings.