calotype

[kal-uh-tahyp]

noun

1. an early negative-positive photographic process, patented by William Henry Talbot in 1841, in which a paper negative is produced and then used to make a positive contact print in sunlight.

2. a print made by this process.

calotype

/ ˈkæləʊˌtaɪp /

noun

1. an early photographic process invented by W. H. Fox Talbot, in which the image was produced on paper treated with silver iodide and developed by sodium thiosulphite

2. a photograph made by this process

Word History and Origins

Origin of calotype¹

1835–45; < Greek kalo- (combining form of kalós beautiful) + -type

Word History and Origins

Origin of calotype¹

C19: from Greek kalos beautiful + _-type

Example Sentences

Throughout his career, Murray used paper negatives and the calotype process - a technique of creating "positive" prints from one negative - to produce his images.

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Biggs experimented with the calotype process, producing "positive" prints from one negative.

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Fox Talbot's image of the cat was made by creating "positive" prints from one negative - a technique he called the calotype process, after the Greek word "kalos", meaning beauty.

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Daguerreotypes were unique artefacts; Talbot’s calotype was a paper negative that could yield any number of positive copies.

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Polymath William Henry Fox Talbot began the history of British photography with the invention of his "calotype" process, patented in February 1841.

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