124 THE A B C OF PHOTO MICROGRAPHY 



of prints are to be made from any one, in 

 which case it is recommended to do so. And 

 if we have unfortunately to employ the services 

 of a printer, it is well to varnish the negatives 

 first, as a safeguard against carelessness. A 

 hard varnish, drying without heat, should be 

 used and must not be applied unless the film 

 is entirely free from moisture, in fact " bone- 

 dry." Neither should it be done before a 

 print is made and the negative found to be 

 satisfactory in all particulars, since no altera- 

 tions, such as reducing or intensifying, can be 

 made without its removal. This may be done 

 by immersion in alcohol, but it is much better 

 to be sure that the negative is all right first. 



Intensification. A perfect negative of course 

 is one which needs no after-treatment when 

 the development is finished; specimen, lens, 

 illumination, exposure, developer, having alike 

 done their parts in producing a harmonious 

 whole. It is what we strive for throughout, 

 and thanks to the present perfection of opti- 

 cal apparatus and dry plates, is very generally 

 reached by all who have had some practical 

 experience and earnestly work for it always. 

 But there are frequent unforeseen contin- 

 gencies to be met, which disappoint our ex- 

 pectations and require the making of another 



