Ferrotype Process

The Ferrotype Process, also known as “tintype” or “melainotype” process, refers to the photographic process of reproducing images on iron (”ferro”) or tin. Before the advent of film, people would use anything from glass and cloth to thin sheets of metal to recreate images.

Made popular during the late 1800s, the ferrotype process replaced the previous practice of using glass plates to make primitive “photographs.” In fact, the ferrotype process updated and refined the daguerreotype method that was the primary practice during the mid 1800s.

Not only was the ferrotype process cheaper than previous methods, but it also rendered image reproductions that were more resistant to wear and tear. Similarly, ferrotype prints took less time to prepare (due to faster exposure times), paving the way for portrait shops and the wider photography industry. Actually, because ferrotypes needed less exposure time, photographers could more easily experiment with outdoor and nature photography.

However, like the daguerreotypes, the photos made through the ferrotype process created “positive” images, rather than the negatives (the reverse of the original) that we are so familiar with today.