PRINTING METHODS LANTERN SLIDES 



no air with them, and that nothing but water 

 intervenes between their surfaces and that of 

 the plate. Observe that, having pushed each 

 into position, all beneath the water, I grasp 

 the plate and prints by thumb and fingers of 

 each hand, and raise out of the water again 

 by a sliding motion, allowing the surplus 

 moisture to run off at the bottom, whilst the 

 prints adhere quite closely to the wet plate. 

 Now carefully wipe the prints and both sides 

 of plate with a soft sponge, taking care not 

 to move the former, as they are not yet very 

 firmly attached to the plate, more or less 

 water still intervening between their surfaces, 

 but after passing a flat rubber squeegee sev- 

 eral times over them they may be handled 

 almost with impunity. The final act is to lay 

 the plate upon a table, prints upward, and 

 place over them a smooth, absorbent linen 

 towel, passing the squeegee somewhat vigor- 

 ously over its surface several times, until all 

 moisture is apparently abstracted. Then re- 

 move them to a dry place if possible in a 

 gentle current of air to dry spontaneously, 

 when they will probably peel off the plate of 

 their own accord ; at farthest, a slight, steady 

 pull by one corner will dislodge them. On 

 no account must this be attempted until they 



