LOW-POWER WORK 



45 



If the water be hot, the bath may be used when cold ; if not, a day should elapse 

 between mixing and using it. This bath keeps well, but, of course, from time to 

 time the ingredients must be freshly added. Another excellent formula, but which 

 must be used on the day it is made, is as follows : 



Borax ......... loo grains. 



Trichloride of gold ....... i grain. 



Water ......... lo ounces. 



This bath seems to suit the ready-made sensitised papers, to which we have 

 referred, better than those made in the manner already described. Sixteen ounces 

 should tone a whole so-called sheet of paper. 



Printing with albumenised paper — although we practised it largely some twenty- 

 five years ago — we have always considered an art, and many bad prints must be 

 made before the amateur can expect to be perfect in it. 



After the print is placed face down in the gold bath it should be turned the other 

 way — face up — moved frequently, and watched. The colour which is rapidly imparted 

 to it should be the same when the print is looked through as when looked at, for this 

 will show the gold has permeated the film on the paper. Toning completed, another 

 washing of the print is necessary, say, for ten minutes, before placing it in the fixing 

 bath, consisting of " hypo," 4 ounces, to water, i pint. Here it must be left for ten 

 to fifteen minutes, or even longer, if the paper be very thick. Another washing — 

 this time for not less than an hour^ — here follows, and the print is then ready for 

 drying. 



As many mistakes are easily made in printing with albumenised paper, and as 

 these articles are to be as practical as possible, the following hints may be worth 

 recording : 



1. When sensitising the paper, if you know you have a weak, thin negative 

 (usually arising from over-exposure and improper development), it is better to have a 

 rather weak solution of silver nitrate, and to print in a feeble light. 



2. Do not forget to wash the paper before and after toning, and at least an hour 

 after fixing. 



3. Do not try and economise by using a stale solution of hypo ; use fresh each 

 time. 



4. If your fixing is not a success let it remind you it is a good plan to test your 

 fixing-bath before use, to see it is not acid. If so, add a little ammonia until 

 neutrality is obtained. 



