Cibachrome Was Another Ciba Innovation

While the Ciba-Geigy name is well known in contact lens circles, this Swiss-based company is famous for innovation in other arenas, as well. Perhaps one of the most famous creations of this company outside the products of CIBA Vision itself is Cibachrome. This Ciba invention hit the market in the 1960s.

Cibachrome's claim to fame is the manner in which it eases the reproduction of slides onto photographic paper. The process skips the need for an internegative. The dyes themselves are in the paper.

Cibachrome's properties include:

• Positive-to-positive reproduction. This makes the reproduction of slides onto photo paper go more smoothly and quickly. The process, in essence, skips the middleman step.
• Clarity. Cibachrome's end result is an image that's as clear as the initial positive or very close to it.
• Color. The color production offered by Cibachrome's method is still considered very high.
• Archival uses. Cibachrome's major impact on the market is the manner in which it makes copying slides quicker and easier. When archival quality is required, this process is sought out.

Cibachrome's name is no longer a frontrunner in the industry. The process, however, is. Cibachrome's name and process was purchased by Illford and is now marketed under that company's name of Ilfochrome.

Although Cibachrome's no longer a Ciba product, the innovation is just one example of many created by this company. Ciba's name continues to dazzle in the vision care world. To learn more about CIBA Vision products and how innovation remains strong at this Swiss company, browse our selection.

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