The calotype is an early photographic process invented by William Henry Fox Talbot in the 1830s. It uses paper coated with silver iodide to create a negative image, which can then be used to produce multiple positive prints. This method marked a significant advancement in photography, allowing for the reproduction of images. Unlike the daguerreotype, which produced a single, unique image, the calotype's negative-positive system enabled photographers to create several copies from one exposure. The calotype laid the groundwork for modern photography, influencing later processes and techniques that followed in the 19th century.