Kalotípiája

Kalotípiája refers to a specific type of photographic print developed in the mid-19th century. It is also known as the salted paper print. This process involves treating paper with a solution of salt, typically sodium chloride, and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. When exposed to light in direct contact with a negative, the silver salts in the paper undergo a chemical reaction, creating a visible image.

The paper was then washed to remove any unreacted chemicals and further treated with a fixing agent, usually sodium thiosulfate, to make the image permanent. Kalotípiája prints are characterized by their warm, brownish tones and a delicate, often matte surface. The texture of the paper itself is usually visible in the final print, contributing to its unique aesthetic.

This process was widely used by early photographers due to its relative simplicity and the portability of the materials compared to earlier daguerreotypes. While it produced less sharp images than some other contemporary processes, its ability to capture subtle tonal gradations and its paper base made it popular for producing multiple prints. It was a significant step in the development of photographic printing techniques before the advent of collodion processes.