124 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



to tlie water, and in a few minutes we saw the delicate transparent film 

 separated from the paper, and floating in the water. After rhising, we 

 placed a piece of white enamel glass underneath the floating film, and 

 by a little careful management lifted it from the water uninjured, and 

 stretched flat upon the glass, where it dried, smooth, bright, and firm. 

 We now exposed a couple more, and printed until the image was com- 

 pletely buried ; after which, before toning, we trimmed the print to the 

 shape we desired, as we found it was a difficult thing to shape the film 

 when once detached from the paper. We toned this time in a bath 

 containing a little carbonate of soda, and we observed in the subse- 

 quent rinsing that the blisters began to rise ; these increased in the 

 hypo bath, and in the course of the subsequent washings, the film read- 

 ily separated and floated away from the paper. A subsequent couple 

 were toned in the lime-bath, washed, and fixed. These also separated 

 in the subsequent washing without any trouble ; but a longer time was 

 necessary, some hours elapsing before the film of albumen was quite 

 detached. The attenuated film, as delicate as the wing of the smallest 

 fly, at first sight seems quite unmanageable, curling, twisting, and fold- 

 ing itself with the slightest disturbance of the water ; and if the object 

 on which it is to be placed be brought under it, and both lifted out of 

 the water without proper precaution, it will probably be found to have 

 run up together into a shapeless mass, apparently beyond remedy. If 

 it be carefully returned to the water, the probability is that it will 

 gradually float straight out again, and present itself quite uninjured. 

 A little care and patience will be required. The variety of ornamen- 

 tal purposes for such transfers will readily suggest themselves. When 

 transferred to plain white enamel glass, the pictures acquire not only a 

 beauty as transparencies, but also as positives, which they did not pos- 

 sess before. The pure white and fine surface seems to impart a won- 

 drous charm of delicacy and brilliancy altogether unexpected, which, 

 for locket and brooch portraits, will possess especial value. It is prob- 

 able that the film so transferred to ivory will be of value to the minia- 

 ture painter. As ornaments for vases of opal glass, etc., many very 

 beautiful effects may be produced. In the art of diaphanie, and as an 

 adjunct to the now fashion-able art of decalcomanie, it will probably be 

 found useful ; and in a variety of ways which do not now occur to us. 

 At present, the only protection is a hard varnish, but it is possible that 

 by the use of an enamel powder fusing at a low temperature, a vitre- 

 ous surface might be secured." 



A NEW KIND OF MINIATURE POSSESSING APPARENT SOLIDITY 

 BY MEANS OF A COMBINATION OF PRISMS. 



A very ingenious and beautiful application of optical principles to 

 the mounting of photographic miniatures has been recently made by 

 Mr. Henry Swan, photographic artist of London. The effect of the 

 new process is to exhibit the subject of the portraiture with life-like 

 verisimilitude, and in natural relief, the image being apparently imbed- 

 ded in the thickness of a small inclosed block of glass or crystal, there- 

 by defining form and expression with a degree of accuracy unattaina- 

 ble in a flat portrait. The projection of the nose, the moulding of the 

 lips, and all the gradations of contour, are as distinct a? if an able 

 sculptor had exercised his skill ; while the hair and the flesh are of 



