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.

How do tintype photos work?

A tintype image is a photograph made by making a positive (opposed to a negative) on a thin sheet of metal. The metal itself is coated with a dark lacquer or enamel. This in turn holds the photographic emulsion. These tintypes are also known as melainotypes or ferrotypes.