Abstract: There are disclosed a method and an apparatus for the production of photographic materials by vacuum deposition of silver halides on a continuously moving substrate. The silver halides are heated in a crucible placed within a vacuum chamber by radiant heating means disposed outside the chamber and the crucible is so shaped and positioned so close to the continuously moving substrate that a stream of silver halide vapour impinges perpendicularly on the substrate and silver halide is deposited on the substrate at a rate of 200 to 2000 A/sec. The substrate is usually primed with a layer of a material which enhances deposition of the silver halide thereon. The use of the photographic material thus produced in the production of direct positive and negatively emitting photographic materials is described.