410 HANDBOOK OF PHOTOGRAPHY 



method is followed requires use of expedients to produce a flat flexible print. These 

 expedients are as follows: 



The use of a glycerin bath. 



Sponging and the use of blotters. 



Coating the back of the print with gelatin. 



Straightening the print. 



To give flexibility to the print and overcome brittleness, as well as some of the 

 tendency to curl, a glycerin bath may be used after completion of the final washing. 

 The bath is composed of 1 part of glycerin to from 5 to 10 parts of water. The print 

 should be allowed to remain in this bath until the solution has thoroughly permeated 

 the gelatin coating, which usually requires at least 5 min., and then, without further 

 washing, the print is placed upon the drying screen. 



Whether a glycerin bath has been used or not, it is always advisable, while the 

 prints are on the stretchers and before they are thoroughly dry, to sponge the backs of 

 them lightly with water or alcohol and to lay a blotter on them. Even when the 

 glycerin bath has not been used, this sponging, combined with the use of blotters, will 

 aid greatl}'' in drying the prints flat. 



The serviceability of the blotters used extensively in print finishing is greatly 

 increased by keeping them as dry as possible. After each time they are wetted, they 

 should be spread out to dry before they are again used. Commercial blotters are 

 ordinarily unsuitable for photographic purposes as they invariably contain chemicals 

 that have a bleaching action on the print. Colored blotters are likewise unsuitable 

 because of the likelihood of the color being transferred to the print. A white, chem- 

 ically pure blotter is available for photographic purposes. 



The curl of a print may be removed by the scraping effect of a straightedged ruler, 

 the procedure being to lay the print face down on a hard clean surface and to draw it 

 between the surface and the straightedge while it is held in close contact with the 

 surface. 



Ferrotyping. — Glazing or ferrotyping a print is a process for increasing the luster 

 of a glossy-surfaced print so as to increase its contrast. To impart^ this gloss, ferro- 

 type plates, i.e. thin iron sheets coated with a hard, smooth, glossy enamel, or chro- 

 mium-metal plates, are used. Prints to be ferrotyped should be hardened in the 

 fixing bath and allowed to remain in the final wash for the normal length of time. 

 Upon completion of the final washing, dip the clean ferrotype plate in water to remove 

 dust specks and lint. Then lay the print, face down, on the ferrotype plate, applying 

 one corner first, and gradually bringing down the other corners until the print lies 

 smooth and flat on the plate. Squeegee the surplus water from the print by means 

 of a print roller or squeegee, making sure that the print is in firm, intimate contact 

 with the plate and that all small air pockets are eliminated. In rolling or squeegeeing, 

 work from the center toward the edges of the print. Instead of squeegeeing, the 

 print and ferrotype plate may be passed through a wringer; this is effective where 

 much work is being done. After squeegeeing or passing through the wringer, the 

 prints are set away to dry. 



If the ferrotype plate was clean and the directions given have been followed, the 

 prints will fall awaj^ from the ferrotype tin after they have become completely dry. 

 If they do not separate readily, the prints may be removed by prying loose one corner 

 and slipping a thin piece of film between the tin and the print, using this film as a 

 wedge to separate other parts of the print from the tin. 



The prints should be trimmed immediately upon their removal from the ferrotype 

 plates and should then be placed under pressure to minimize the tendency to curl. 

 Tendency toward curling may be reduced bj' dampening the back of the prints occa- 

 sionally' with alcohol. 



