One of the most prominent of historic photographic processes, the tintype is one derivation of the Wet Plate Collodion process developed by Frederick Scott Archer in 1851. In 1853, Adolphe-Alexandre Martin of France introduced the tintype itself. The tintype was among the most popular photographic processes from the 1860s to the 1870s, and saw use until the early 20th century. The look and feel of a tintype has become, in many ways, synonymous with the idea of what an antique photograph looks like.

      What is it, though? The tintype is a positive image on metal. It's what is called a "direct positive," or there is no negative or middle step in making the final image. The material that is in the camera is what the final image is, which leads to these images being truly unique. As there is no negative or intermediate step, every tintype is completely one of a kind. Due to the chemical nature of the processes, were you to try to shoot an image of the same scene twice, there would always be some amount of differences. 

      To make a tintype, first, a piece of black lacquered metal is coated in a chemical called collodion. This is then soaked in a bath of silver nitrate, placed in a camera, and exposed, then developed. All of this must be done while the plate is still wet (hence the name wet plate). Historically, these were shot on pieces of iron, and the process was originally named the "Ferrotype". Due to the relative inexpensiveness of the process compared to others in the mid-19th century, it was nicknamed the "Tintype".

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