: a highly polished black-enameled or chromium-plated metal sheet that is used in ferrotyping.

Are tintype photos worth anything?

Tintypes used a thin sheet of iron to host an image. … Collectors typically will pay between $35 to $350 for a good quality antique tintype in good condition. Tintypes are more common photographs of the Victorian era and thus, they are not as valuable as ambrotypes or daguerreotypes which are more rare.

What are ambrotype?

The ambrotype (from Ancient Greek: immortal, and impression) also known as a collodion positive in the UK, is a positive photograph on glass made by a variant of the wet plate collodion process. Like a print on paper, it is viewed by reflected light.

How do you tell a daguerreotype from a tintype?

Tintypes are attracted to a magnet, while Ambrotypes and Daguerreotypes are not. The Daguerreotype image has a magical, mirror-like quality. The image can only be seen at certain angles. A piece of paper with writing will be reflected in the image, just as with a mirror.

What does fixing mean in photography?

In technology of photography: Fixing. The fixing bath contains a chemical (sodium or ammonium thiosulfate) that converts the silver halide into soluble, complex silver salts that dissolve in the fixer. During this process the film loses its original silver halide milkiness overlaying the image and becomes clear.

Are tintypes reverse images?

Because they are not produced from a negative, the images are reversed (as in a mirror). They are a very dark grey-black and the image quality is often poor.

When did they stop making tin photos?

Tintypes, originally known as or ferrotypes or melainotypes, were invented in the 1850s and continued to be produced into the 20th century. The photographic emulsion was applied directly to a thin sheet of iron coated with a dark lacquer or enamel, which produced a unique positive image.

Can you scan a tintype?

Tintypes are pieces of metal coated with a photographic emulsion. … If you have a tintype, you should make a copy to display so the original can be kept safely stored. You can either scan a copy or take a photograph of the tintype.

How do I protect my tintype pictures?

A tintype may be stored in an acid-free paper folder or envelope, or wrapped in acid-free tissue and placed in a storage box. It’s best to keep it lying flat. For display, the tintype should be supported evenly on a mount or lie flat.

What is unique about ambrotype?

Similar to prints on paper, ambrotypes are viewed by reflected light and are unique originals, meaning that they can only be duplicated by using a camera to copy it. This is the same with various other forms of photography as well, such as Polaroid photos, daguerreotypes, and more.

How does ambrotype work?

Ambrotypes are basically underexposed collodion* negatives on glass. The image materials appear white instead of black when viewed with transmitted light. When the glass plate is placed against a dark background, the positive image can be viewed.

Are daguerreotypes valuable?

Among today’s collectors, daguerreotypes are considered the most desirable and attractive of the early photographs. Depending on the condition and subject, one can obtain a daguerreotype at auction for $25-$100. Provenance is important here. If you have the name or any history of the subject, value will increase.

Are daguerreotypes expensive?

The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process (1839-1860) in the history of photography. … Daguerreotypes were very expensive, so only the wealthy could afford to have their portrait taken.

Do tintypes fade?

Will it fade? As with all photographs, your digital tintype should not be placed directly in the sun. We recommend that you preserve your image by properly framing your digital tintype. This will insure that your image will last for generations.

What is hypo fixer?

Share. Often used as a synonym for Sodium thiosulphate or for motion picture film fixer. The name of a fixing bath made from ammonium or sodium thiosulfate, other chemicals, and water.

What is photographic hypo?

Photographic fixer is a mix of chemicals used in the final step in the photographic processing of film or paper. … Fixation is commonly achieved by treating the film or paper with a solution of thiosulfate salt.

What chemicals are in photo fixer?

Fixer contains sodium thiosulfate, sodium sulfite and sodium bisulfite. It may also contain potassium aluminum sulfate as a hardener and boric acid as a buffer. Fixer solutions slowly release sulfur dioxide gas as they age.

How can I tell if my tintype is real?

Detecting the Fakes The easiest way to detect the fakes is with a 10X loupe. All original photographs (including tintypes) are continuous tone images. That is they go smoothly from white to various grays to black. Printing presses, however, cannot produce a continuous tone.

What replaced the tintype?

They lost popularity in the early 1860s when tintypes and CDVs replaced them. Many vintage photographs sold at auction today are sold as Daguerreotypes, but are actually Ambrotypes.

How do you date a tintype?

Identifying characteristics: The thickness of the card stock, the color of its borders and whether it has rounded corners (1870s to 1900) or square corners (after 1900) can often help determine the date of a photograph. Many prints also included the name and location of the photography studio on the bottom of the card.

How can I date an old photo?

How to date family photographs

  1. Check for written clues. …
  2. Analyse the fashion and hairstyles. …
  3. Consider uniforms and medals. …
  4. Look at the background and other objects. …
  5. Don’t forget to ask. …
  6. Look at the format. …
  7. Check the support of the photograph. …
  8. Observe the colour tone of the image.

What were old photographs printed on?

Once it was dry, albumen prints were used just like salted-paper prints and the image would form by the darkening properties of the sun on the chemicals. Most of the surviving photographs from the 19th century are on albumen paper.

How do you tell when a printed photo was taken?

Remember the date on the back is the date developed. Some photos taken with digital cameras and then printed may have date stamps on the front of the printed (or digital) photo. Take this date with a grain of salt.

Can old tintypes be restored?

Tintypes are valuable capsules of history and should only be directly worked on by an archival specialist. Today virtually all tintype images needing restoration are restored digitally on the computer.

Do tintypes rust?

Rusting. The most significant preservation risk to tintypes is exposure to water and high humidity, which will lead to oxidation and rusting. … If placed on a secondary paper support or in a sleeve, rust stains may show on its back side.

How do you preserve tintypes?

Tintypes in good condition are best stored in a sturdy four-flap enclosure if loose or, if cased, wrapped in acid-free tissue and placed in a folding box to prevent breakage and abrasion. Store vertically with dividers between each slide. May also be stored horizontally (flat).

What is a sixth plate tintype?

Sixth Plate: 2.75 x 3.25 inches (7 x 8 cm) Ninth Plate: 2 x 2.5 inches (5 x 6 cm) Sixteenth Plate: 1.375 x 1.625 inches (3.5 x 4 cm)

What is a tintype picture?

A tintype, also known as melainotype or ferrotype, is an old style of photograph that creates a photographic image on a thin sheet of metal or iron that has been coated with a dark lacquer or enamel.

What was the first daguerreotype?

The first daguerreotypes in the United States were made on September 16, 1839, just four weeks after the announcement of the process. Exposures were at first of excessive length, sometimes up to an hour. At such lengthy exposures, moving objects could not be recorded, and portraiture was impractical.