A Practical Manual of the Collodion Process, Giving in Detail a Method For Producing Positive and Negative Pictures on Glass and Paper.Humphrey, S. D. (Samuel Dwight)
Science
A Practical Manual of the Collodion Process, Giving in Detail a Method For Producing Positive and Negative Pictures on Glass and Paper.
Humphrey, S. D. (Samuel Dwight)
Ambrotype; Photography
The same bath and solution is used for the negative as for the positive
process; and the time of exposure in the camera should be prolonged a few
seconds. I have produced beautiful negatives, in-doors, in _four seconds_,
and, out-doors, _instantaneously_. The manipulation, bath, and developing
solution are precisely the same as those used in the positive process.
_Fixing the Negative._--Place the following mixture in a well-stoppered
bottle:
Pure Water 6 ounces.
Aqua-ammonia, concentrated 1 ounce.
This solution should be poured on the negative and allowed to remain for
about twenty seconds. It should be borne in mind, that the developing
solution (same as for positives) should be well washed off the glass
before the fixing solution is poured over; after it has remained on the
glass for the time given (20 seconds), the negative can be washed with
clean water and dried; it is then ready for printing. The iodide of
silver is not, as in other processes, dissolved off, but remains on the
glass.
It sometimes happens that the negative is not sufficiently intense; this
result can be obtained by pouring over the plate the following solution,
which should remain for about three-fourths of a minute:
Water 8 ounces.
Nitrate of silver 28 grains.
Alcohol 1 ounce.
Loaf sugar 1/3 ounce
After this solution is used, I pour over the impression the developing
solution, and then wash well with water. This re-developing may be
repeated two or three times, and almost any desired intensity obtained.
_Printing Process--Salting the Paper._--Boil the following mixture in an
earthen vessel until it becomes transparent:--
Distilled water 12 ounces.
Muriate of ammonia 240 grains.
Arrowroot 112 grains.
After this has been sufficiently boiled, it should be strained through
clean linen or cotton cloth (free from soap or other substances), and,
when cool, it is ready for coating the paper, which is done by dipping a
new clean sponge into it and rubbing it over one side of the paper, giving
it a uniform coating; but as it is not desirable to have too much on the
paper, it should be rubbed with a clean sponge until nearly dry; it can
then be hung up by the corner until thoroughly dry, when it can be put
into a portfolio and kept for exciting for use.
_Silvering Solution._--This solution may be prepared in the light, but
must be used in a dark room:--
Distilled water 1 pint.
Nitrate of silver 3-3/4 ounces.
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