AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



489 



the surface. If dirt is not removed by this 

 means, a cloth may be slightly moistened 

 and the surface gently wiped with it after- 

 ward being dried thoroughly with a dry 

 portion of the cloth. Continued gentle 

 wiping and polishing of the surfaces with 

 the cloth will generally remove all traces 

 of materials which may have collected. If 

 neither the moisture nor the wiping will 

 remove substances the chances are that 

 they are of an oily or resinous nature. In 

 that case polish the surface of the lens with 

 a cloth slightly moistened with pure alcohol, 

 taking care not to allow it to touch the 

 mount. After wiping a few times polish 

 thoroughly with a dry portion of the cloth. 

 Any lens is improved by being frequently 

 polished with a dry cloth, first breathing 

 on the surface of the lens. A lens may 

 deteriorate considerably in speed through 

 the collection of a fine film of dust which 

 is scarcely noticeable. — Editor. 



DUE TO EXPOSURE. 



What dry plates are best for photograph- 

 ing mountain scenery? How are non-hala- 

 tion plates for such work? What causes 

 the grayish and spotted whites on Velox 

 gloss paper? I use M. I. developer and 

 plenty of bromide of potassium, but can 

 not get good effects. I used same devel- 

 oper on carbon Velox and it worked all 

 right. 



What will remove hypo stains from neg- 

 atives which have been improperly washed? 



I have not missed a copy of your valua- 

 ble magazine in 3 years. I take great 

 pleasure in the pages devoted to photog- 

 raphy and guns and ammunition, as they 

 give a great deal of valuable information. 

 R. Ralph Garinger, Pueblo, Colo. 



ANSWER. 



Each plate manufacturer would claim 

 his plate to be the best. A non-halation 

 plate has nothing of advantage except 

 where there is halation to avoid, which 

 would be liable to occur in taking a moun- 

 tain scene. The negative being good, this 

 difficulty is due either to over exposure 

 and under development or else under ex- 

 posure and forced development. The fact 

 that you had good results on another trial 

 would indicate that the difficulty is due 

 to exposure. 



I do not consider it practical to remove 

 hypo stains from the negative, and advise 

 thorough washing so there will be no 

 stains. — Editor. 



which employ bichromate salts will be 

 found the most economical. Among these 

 is the process recently put forward em- 

 ploying mercuric nitrate. It is carried out 

 by immersing ordinary paper in a 10 per 

 cent solution of bichromate 5 minutes, 

 and drying it in the dark. When dry, it 

 is ready for printing, which must be done 

 in a good light, and which results in a 

 visible image of a reddish color, but not 

 strong. When the shadows are distinctly 

 visible, the printing is finished, and the 

 paper must be washed in water until the 

 whites are clear, after which it should be 

 immersed in a bath made by dissolving 80 

 grains of mercuric nitrate and 20 grains 

 of potassium bichromate in an ounce of 

 water. This solution snould be made some 

 hours before use, and allowed to stand 

 until required, when it may be filtered, and 

 is then ready. The resulting liquid, which 

 is green, will gradually turn the picture to 

 a pleasant red tone, after which it may be 

 washed and dried. To obtain a brown tone, 

 treat the print with 60 minims of strong 

 ammonia to an ounce of water, washing 

 well between the mercury bath and that 

 containing the ammonia. These prints can 

 be toned in ordinary gold toning baths, in 

 which they gradually turn to purple. — Ex- 

 change. 



A CHEAP PRINTING PROCESS. 



The photographer who desires to turn 



out prints on an economical basis has 



plenty of methods among which to make 



his selection. Generally speaking, those 



TO INTENSIFY NEGATIVES. 

 In January, 1901, Recreation, you pub- 

 lished a formula for intensifying negatives. 

 My druggist has tried several times to 

 compound it for me, but can not mix the 

 nitrate of silver and cyanide of potash in 

 in the quantity named. Will you kindly 

 tell me how it can be done? 



James' H. Miller, Lowville, N. Y. 



If the silver is good it will dissolve in 

 one dram of water. However, you can use 

 90 minims or more if necessary, but enough 

 must be left for the 'cyanide. 



The Monckhoven formula is the best in- 

 tensifying material on earth. It develops 

 negatives and works wonders with flat, 

 under developed, over exposed negatives. 



A. Distilled water 1 ounce, 



Bromode of potash 10 grains. 



Bichloride of Mercury 10 grains. 



B. Distilled water... 1 ounce. 



Nitrate of silver 10 grams. 



Cyanide of potash C. P 10 grains. 



danger that my scholars will ever be game 



In making B. dissolve the silver in a 

 dram of the water, the cyanide in the re- 

 maining 7 drams. Mix, and when settled 

 and clear it is ready to use. Bleach the 

 plate in A. till white. The longer it 

 bleaches the more intensity will ensue. 

 Rinse well and blacken in B. Work in day- 

 light, but not near a window. Both solu- 

 tions are poisonous. — Editor, 



