The Timeline of Historical Film Colors is a website devoted to listing and recording the background of color in movies. Barbara Flueckiger, professor of film studies at the University of Zurich, created it for her research project, “FilmColors: Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Aesthetics.” The project site’s goal is to investigate the cultural, artistic, and technical aspects of color in film history. That being said, the website has evolved since its conception in 2012. Having originally been made for the sake of collecting information about the processes of early film, it broadened its horizons to instead cover a wide range of topics similar or relating to film colors based on data. Since then, it has incorporated interactive tools meant for users to visualize how film color has evolved through charts, maps and timelines. In addition, the database is updated regularly and continues to add new information that makes it an excellent researching resource.
The website offers an abundance of knowledge on the different color processes used in filmmaking, from the earliest hand-coloring methods to the most recent digital color grading. In-depth entries on particular color systems, like Technicolor, Eastmancolor, and Kodachrome, are included, along with details on particular motion pictures, directors, and studios connected to color innovation.