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
d. _Accelerating effect of certain organic matters._--Organic bodies,
like Albumen, Gelatine, Glycyrrhizine, etc., which combine chemically
with oxides of Silver, and were shown in the last Section to lessen the
sensitiveness of the Iodide film,--facilitate the development of the
image, producing often a dense deposit of a brown or black colour by
transmitted light.
In the same way, viz. by a retention of organic matter, may partly be
explained the fact, that the image developed by Pyrogallic Acid, although
proved by the application of tests to contain no more than an equal
quantity of Silver, possesses greater opacity by transmitted light, than
that resulting from the use of protosalts of Iron: and in the case of
the Collodion itself the same rule applied--if it be pure, it is liable
to give a less vigorous impression than when by long keeping a partial
decomposition has taken place, and products have been formed which
combine with reduced Oxide of Silver more easily than the unaltered
Pyroxyline.
e. _Molecular conditions affecting Intensity._--The physical structure
of the Collodion film is thought to exert an influence upon the mode in
which the reduced Silver is thrown down during the development. A short
and almost powdery state, such as Collodion iodized with the alkaline
iodides acquires by keeping, is considered favourable, and a glutinous,
coherent structure unfavourable, to density. This is certainly the case
when the film is allowed to dry before development, as in the process
with desiccated Collodion and, to some extent, in the Oxymel preservative
process.
The mode of conducting the development also affects the density; a rapid
action tending to produce an image of which the particles are finely
divided and offer a considerable resistance to the passage of light,
whilst a slow and prolonged development often leaves a metallic and almost
crystalline deposit, comparatively translucent and feeble.
The writer has observed, that with certain samples of Collodion the
image is much enfeebled by keeping the plate for a considerable time,--a
quarter of an hour or longer,--after sensitizing, but before development.
This effect is not the result of the Nitrate of Silver having partially
drained away, since a second dip in the Nitrate Bath immediately before
applying the Pyrogallic Acid, does not remedy it. An alteration of
molecular structure may therefore be the correct explanation, and if so, a
contractile Collodion would suffer more than one possessing less coherency.
The actinic power of the light at the time of taking the picture,
influences the appearance of the developed image; the most vigorous
impressions being produced by a strong light acting for a short time. On a
dull dark day, or in copying badly lighted interiors, the photograph will
often lack bloom and richness, and be blue and inky by transmitted light.
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