A Manual of Photographic Chemistry, Including the Practice of the Collodion ProcessHardwich, T. Frederick
Science
A Manual of Photographic Chemistry, Including the Practice of the Collodion Process
Hardwich, T. Frederick
Photographic chemistry; Photography
The manipulation of the Oxymel process is very simple. Two flat
gutta-percha dishes are provided, the one containing common water and the
other diluted and filtered Oxymel. The Collodion plate, on its removal
from the Bath, is placed in the first dish, which is gently tilted up and
down, to wash away the free Nitrate of Silver. In a few seconds, when
the liquid is rendered milky, it is poured away, and fresh water being
introduced, the process is repeated _until the oily lines disappear, and
the surface of the film becomes smooth and glassy_. The plate is then,
after a slight draining, removed to the second tray, and the Oxymel waved
backwards and forwards for about half a minute, after which the glass is
lifted out and placed vertically on blotting-paper, which must be renewed
when it becomes wet and saturated.
The plates may be used any time within a fortnight from the date of their
preparation, and it is not necessary to develope immediately after the
exposure. The sensitiveness will be considerably less than that of fresh
Collodion: from two to five minutes may be allowed with a Stereoscopic
view lens having a quarter-inch diaphragm.
Before developing, the film should be gently washed for a few seconds with
common water. Solution of Pyrogallic Acid, of the ordinary strength, but
previously mixed with a portion of the Nitrate Bath solution, one or two
drops to each drachm, may then be poured on in the ordinary way. Use less
Nitrate of Silver and more Acetic Acid in hot weather. When discoloration
of the developer occurs, mix a fresh portion and proceed as before.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED IN KEEPING PROCESSES.
The plates must be roughened at the edges, and also upon the surface, to
make the film adhere.
It is advisable to use a tolerably thick Collodion, giving a yellow film;
the pale opalescent films being more easily affected by markings on the
glass, and not retaining so much of syrup or Nitrate of Silver upon the
surface.
The room in which the plates are prepared must be carefully guarded
from scattered pencils of white light; the films are exposed to injury
from this cause during the whole of the time occupied in applying the
preservative syrup; and hence anything short of absolute chemical darkness
will be likely to cause fogging; especially so when free Nitrate of Silver
is left upon the film.
The water used for washing away the free Nitrate of Silver before applying
the preserving liquid, need not be distilled. Common hard water containing
Carbonates and Chlorides, and producing _milkiness_ with Nitrate of
Silver, will often suffice. The water of the New River and of the River
Thames, with which many parts of London are supplied, may certainly be
used; but in the case of a very _hard_ water, containing much Sulphate of
Lime, it might perhaps be advisable to substitute clean rain-water, free
from brown organic discoloration.
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