Tinctorial methods, by definition, are those that employ dyes to demonstrate tissues and their constituents. The following account will not be concerned with techniques where a col-our compound is formed in situ. This means that silver techniques, and what is traditionally termed histochemical techniques, will not be considered. Equally, there will be no attempt to consider each and every method in what is a highly impressive repertoire. The choice of subject will be restricted to methods that were either influential in their day, or have stood the test of time and remain a feature of the current histological scene.