Ivorytype is an obsolete photographic printing process designed to mimic the look of a painting on ivory. The technique involved hand-colouring a photographic print, impregnating it with wax, and then pressing it face-down onto hot glass. Finally, the paper base was backed with ivory-tinted paper to enhance the illusion of a miniature ivory painting.
Understanding ivorytype is valuable for photographers, historians, and collectors interested in historical photographic techniques. Although no longer used today, ivorytype demonstrates the creative experimentation of early photographers who sought to combine photography with the aesthetics of traditional fine art.