io8 



THE AMERICAN MONTHLY 



[June, 



tinue until the paper becomes of a 

 greyish color where the light acts 

 most strongly upon it. Then remove 

 it from the prhiting-frame and wash 

 it thoroughly in water. The image 

 then comes out of a deep blue color, 

 and has only to be dried. 



Silver Prinjs. — For silver prints 

 it is advisable to purchase sensitized 

 paper. It can be obtained from 

 dealers in photographic goods, who do 

 not like to sell less than a dozen 

 large sheets however, or from the 

 local photographers who can usually 

 spare a sheet or more from their own 

 stock. There is this fact to be borne 

 in mind, however, that the paper sold 

 by the dealers is prepared to keep for 

 a long time without discoloration, 

 while the paper prepared by photog- 

 raphers is intended for immediate 

 use. 



For silver prints the sensitive paper 

 is placed in the printing-frame and 

 exposed to light as already described, 

 but a much weaker light and a shorter 

 time is required for printing than 

 when ferro-prussiate paper is used. 

 Unless the negative is very dense, 

 direct sunlight should never be used in 

 printing. Expose to the diffused light 

 of the sky, or cover the face of the 

 printing-frame with white tissue-paper 

 and let the sun shine upon that. In 

 this way a strong but evenly diffused 

 light is obtained which gives excellent 

 results. With very thin negatives 

 print in a weak light. Print the 

 pictures a little stronger than it is 

 desired to have them appear when 

 finished, for they will lose some 

 strength during subsequent operations. 

 Choose a bright day for printing, and 

 make a number of prints, for it takes 

 but little more time to. tone and fix a 

 dozen than a single one. 



After printing, trim the prints, that 

 is, cut them to the proper size for 

 mounting. Then place them in a 

 dark box or drawer to remain until 

 late in the afternoon when the light 

 grows weak so that the operations of 

 toning can be undertaken. Toning 

 may, if necessary, be done after a day 



or two, but if possible it should be 

 done on the same day as the printing. 



Toning. — The prints are first 

 thrown into a tub or basin of water, 

 where they should remain an hour or 

 so, changing the water occasionally. 

 They are then taken singly and placed, 

 face down, in the toning bath, which, 

 in well-appointed galleries is held in 

 a large shallow porcelain dish, but we 

 have used a large platter for the pur- 

 pose. The toning bath is made as 

 follows : Make a stock-solution of 

 chloride of gold containing 2 grains to 

 an ounce of water. Then mix 



Chloride of gold solution, ^ ounce. 



Sodic acetate, 50 grains. 



Water, 20 ounces. 



This solution should stand several 

 hours before it is used. If it does 

 not tone readily add a little more of 

 the gold solution. After use the 

 solution may be preserved, and again 

 employed adding a little gold if neces- 

 sary. 



The toning goes on more or less 

 rapidly, and a gradual change in the 

 color, or tone, of the picture will be ob- 

 served. This change must be stopped 

 at the right point, and this point can 

 only be learned by experience. Hold 

 the picture up to the light and look 

 through it. When the toning is done 

 the whites are clear. It is usual to 

 watch the progress of the toning by 

 picking up the prints singly and throw- 

 ing them back in the solution face up- 

 ward. When all are turned reverse 

 them again in the same way. By 

 repeating this procedure the prints 

 can be picked out as they are toned 

 and thrown into the fixing solution. 

 When all are toned place them for at 

 least fifteen minutes in a solution of 

 two ounces of sodic hyposulphite in 

 eight ounces of water. After this 

 wash them thoroughly in water. If the 

 washing can be continued all night in 

 running water it is recommended, but 

 if not, the prints should be allowed to 

 soak all night in a large volume of 

 clean water. 



They will then be ready to be 

 mounted on cards, or they may be 



