2/2 HOW TO WORK 



character of the object, or have its chief points named to him ; other- 

 wise a print may be returned bearing anything but a semblance to 

 the real appearance of the object, as seen in the microscope; the 

 tendency generally being to over-print and render a delicate object 

 heavy and out of all character. We shall complete this chapter by 

 offering such instructions as may at least enable the amateur to print 

 for himself. 



t54S. Preparing the Paper. Select albumenised paper, the best 

 procurable, either Rive or Saxe, and such as is used for the finest 

 cartes de visite. Cut the sheet into six equal parts or to the size 

 convenient for sensitising, or according to the size of the negatives, 

 taking care not to soil the surface with the fingers. 



Take the paper by the diagonal corners, bend it slightly back 

 and lower it gradually, without any stoppage, albumen side down- 

 wards, on a solution of nitrate of silver 60 to 80 grains to the ounce 

 of water, and about one drop of nitric acid to four or six ounces of 

 liquid. Be careful that no air bubbles are confined beneath the 

 paper. To ascertain this, lift the corner by a pair of bone forceps, 

 allow the paper to remain from one to two minutes for the 80 grain 

 solution, and three minutes for the 60 grain solution. The object 

 is to form a chloride of silver as much as possible on the surface of 

 the albumen. 



Pin up to drain, and append a piece of blotting paper at the 

 lowest corner. When surface dry, if required at once, the drying 

 miy be hastened by placing the papers in a box lined with blotting 

 paper and heated by a warm clean brick or corked jar of hot 

 water. 



The paper must be prepared in non-actinic light, and can be 

 preserved for future use in a preservative case sold for the pur- 

 pose. 



The negatives are wiped on the back, placed face up in the print- . 

 ing frames, figs. 332 to 335, pi. LIV, the sensitised paper put face 

 downwards on them, then covered by a pad of red blotting paper or 

 cloth, and the back of the printing frame properly closed. These 

 frames, covered by a dark cloth, are carried to the window ledge or 

 table at an open window, and placed so as to receive the direct sun's 

 rays. After the edge of the paper is seen to be well browned or 

 bronzed, the back of the printing frame can be carefully opened in 

 diffused light, the print quickly examined, the back reclosed, and the 

 frame returned to the same position if not already sufficiently printed. 

 When the printing is finished float the prints face downwards on a 

 large flat dish of clean rain water, then on common water in another 

 dish ; afterwards plunge them under water in another deep vessel, 



