Because they are not produced from a negative, the images are reversed (as in a mirror). They are a very dark grey-black and the image quality is often poor.

Are tintypes mirror images?

Each tintype is usually a camera original, so the image is usually a mirror image, reversed left to right from reality.

How do you tell a daguerreotype from a tintype?

Tintypes are attracted to a magnet, while Ambrotypes and Daguerreotypes are not. The Daguerreotype image has a magical, mirror-like quality. The image can only be seen at certain angles. A piece of paper with writing will be reflected in the image, just as with a mirror.