Early photographic processes began in the early 19th century, with the invention of the daguerreotype in 1839 by Louis Daguerre. This method used a silver-coated copper plate to capture images, which were then developed using mercury vapor. The result was a highly detailed and unique image, but the process was time-consuming and required long exposure times. Another significant early process was the calotype, developed by William Henry Fox Talbot around the same time. This technique involved creating a negative image on paper, which could be used to produce multiple positive prints. The calotype laid the groundwork for modern photography by introducing the concept of negatives and prints.