Negative painted or resist wares from Precolumbian America are discussed. Light on dark designs in which the light portions do not show relief are the main examples considered. Parallel stripes are common examples. Following Lothrop, the author suggests that the technique developed in a center in Ecuador or Colombia and diffused to other New World areas. All examples apprently involve the use of carbon paint. Prefiring carbon paints require very adsorptive clays which have limited distributions. Experiments with oxide paints proved unsuccessful. Experiments were performed in which an organic liquid was applied to an already fired vessel, which was then subjected to a short refiring. Several liquids performed satisfactorily, with strength of the liquid determining degree of blackness. Because of the amount of experimentation required for success, the author suggests that the technique is unlikely to have developed independently in more than one area.