396 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 208. 



I have, after a very considerable number of ex- 

 periments, succeeded in producing the very highly 

 varnished appearance so conspicuous in some of 

 the foreign proofs ; and although I cannot say I 

 admire it in general, more especially as regards 

 landscapes, yet it is sometimes very effective for 

 portraits, giving a depth of tone to the shadows, 

 and a roundness to the flesh, which is very strik- 

 ing. Moreover, a photographer may just as Avell 

 be acquainted Avith every kind of manipulation 

 connected with the art. 



Having but a very moderate amount of spare 

 time, and that at uncertain intervals, to devote to 

 this seductive pursuit, I am always a great stickler 

 for economy of time in all the processes, as well as 

 for economy of material, the former with me having, 

 perhaps, a shade more influence than the latter. 



As in all other processes, I find that the kind of 

 paper made use of has a most important bearing 

 upon the result. That which I find the best is of 

 French manufacture, known as Canson 'Freres' 

 (both the thin and the thick sorts), probably in 

 consequence of their being sized with starch. 

 The thin sort (the same as is generally used for 

 waxed-paper negatives) takes the highest polish, 

 but more readily embrowns after being rendered 

 sensitive, and the lights are not ever quite so white 

 as when the positive paper is used. 



In order to save both time and labour, I prepare 

 my papers in the largest sizes that circumstances 

 will admit of, as it takes little or no more time to 

 prepare and render sensitive a large sheet than a 

 small one ; and as I always apply the silver solu- 

 tion by means of the glass rod, I find that a half- 

 sheet of Canson's paper (being seventeen inches 

 by eleven inches the half-sheet) is the best size to 

 operate on. If the whole sheet is used, it requires 

 more than double the quantity of solution to en- 

 sure its being properly covered, which additional 

 quantity is simply so much waste. 



A most convenient holder for the paper whilst 

 being operated upon, is one suggested by Mr. 

 Home of Newgate Street, and consists of a piece 

 of half-inch Quebec yellow pine plank (a soft 

 kind of deal), eleven inches by seventeen inches, 

 screwed to a somewhat larger piece of the same 

 kind, but with the grain of the wood at right 

 angles to the upper piece, in order to preserve a 

 perfectly flat surface. On to the upper piece is 

 glued a covering of japanned flannel, such as is 

 used for covering tables, taking care to select for 

 the purpose that which has no raised pattern, the 

 imitation of rosewood or mahogany being un- 

 exceptionable on that account. The paper can be 

 readily secured to the arrangement alluded to 

 by means of a couple of pins, one at each of two 

 opposite angles, the wood being sufficiently soft 

 to admit of their ready penetration. 



To prepare the Albumen. — Take the white -of 

 one egg; this dissolve in one ounce of distilled 



water, two grains of chloride of sodium (common 

 salt), and two grains of grape sugar; mix with the 

 egg, whip the whole to a froth, and allow it to 

 stand until it again liquefies. The object of this 

 operation is to thorouglily incorporate the ingre- 

 dients, and render the whole as homogeneous as 

 possible. 



A variety in the resulting tone is produced by- 

 using ten grains of sugar of milk instead of the 

 grape sugar. 



The albumen mixture is then laid on to the 

 paper by means of a flat camel's-hair brusli, about 

 three inches broad, the mixture being first poured 

 into a cheese plate, or other flat vessel, and all 

 froth and bubbles carefully removed from the 

 surface. Four longitudinal strokes with such a 

 brush, if properly done, will cover the whole half- 

 sheet of paper with an even thin film ; but in case 

 there are any lines formed, the brush may be 

 passed very lightly over it again in a direction at 

 right angles to the preceding. The papers should 

 then be allowed to remain on a perfectly level 

 surface until nearly dry, when they may be sus- 

 pended for a few minutes before the fire, to com- 

 plete the operation. In this condition the glass is 

 but moderate, and as is generally used ; but if, 

 after the first drying before the fire, the papers 

 are again subjected to precisely the same pi'ocess, 

 the Negative paper will shine like polished glass. 

 That is coated again with the albumenizing mix- 

 ture, and dried as before. 



One egg, with the ounce of water, &c., is enough 

 to cover five half-sheets with two layers, or five 

 whole sheets with one. 



I rarely iron my papers, as I do not find any 

 advantage therein, because the moment the silver 

 solution is applied the albumen becomes coagu- 

 lated, and I cannot discover the slightest differ- 

 ence in the final result, except that when the 

 papers are ironed I sometimes find flaws and 

 spots occur from some cax'elessness in the ironing 

 process. 



If the albumenized paper is intended to be kept 

 for any long time before use, the ironing may be 

 useful as a protection against moisture, provided 

 the iron be sufficiently hot; but the temperature 

 ought to be considerable. 



To render the paper sensitive, I use a hun- 

 dred-grain solution of nitrate of silver, of which 

 forty-five minims will exactly cover the sheet of 

 seventeen inches by eleven inches, if laid on with 

 the glass rod. A weaker solution will do, but 

 with the above splendid tints may be produced. 

 As to the ammonio-niti'ate of silver, I have totally 

 abandoned its use, and, after many careful ex- 

 periments, I am satisfied that its extra sensitive- 

 ness is a delusion, while the rapid tendency of paper 

 prepared with it to spoil is increased tenfold. 



The fixing, of course, modifies considerably the 

 tone of the proof, but almost any desired shade 



