Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-30
NO. 4.
NJ. 4s
rwR1rrrN FoR TILE pISPATcH.I

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in places, and, of course, they never have
finished appearance"
The trouble was easily explained and is
one that will be encountered by almost
every beginner unless the prints are wet
before being mounted on the cards. The
paper has decided tendency to
roll up when dry, and it is next to impossi-
when mounted in that condition. To prop-s
erly mount a batch of prints, therefore. it is
necessary to soak them IN water first. Where
it is convenient it is advisable to mount
them as soon as they are taken out of the
final washing. But in either case the effect
is the same. When the prints are wet they
remain. perfectly smooth and pliable, and
the paste moreover is 'held' much more
readily. Lay 4 number of prints. face
down, on a light of glass, one by one,
squeezing out the surplus water with the
handle OF toothbrush or any smooth fiat
stick. Then take your paste, made of
starch, -four or arrow root, but never muci-
lage-ard with fiat brush cover the sur
face OF the top print smoothly. Be careful
to pick off any
LITTLE sPECKs OF DIRT,
or Jumps of hard paste, as these will cause
Jumps in the picture, if al
lowed to remain. See to it that the edges
are all we'll covered, and then lift up one
corner of the print with the point of knife
blade. Take hold of the corner or edge
lightly and lift the print free, and with the
other hand catch the opposite corner. Now
lay the print carefully on the mount, letting
the middle strike first, and lower the outer
edges gradually until the whole is in posi-
tion. Dry up the moisture from the face
with clean blotting paper and then get rid
of all air-bubbles by laying sheet of clean
paper over the print, and pushing the bub-
bles out toward the edges with handker-
chief or the palm of the hand. Rub the en-
tire surface evenly, so as to make sure that
the print will take hold all over. Pay par
ticular attention to the edges in this respect.
There is unlimited scope for the individu-
al fancy in mounting prints. In the first
place it is suggested that the operator study
each print before trimming it so as to cut it
in such way that the image will show to
the best artistic advantage. It's not always
requisite, by any means, to keep as much Of
the print as possible in order to have it
look well. In fact, it is advisable in many
cases to cut away a heavy margin so as to
bring out picturesque effect. For instance,
ii the main figure in the picture is way off
to one side and the print has an "unbal.
anced" appearance, 1t is we'll to trim away
enough of the lar side to attain good
effect.
LINES OF THE PICTURE.
Again, if the picture is taken on the
water and the dividing line between the
water and the shore and the water and the
sky runs across the middle, or near the mid
die of the print, trim it so that the dividing
line is brought nearer to the bottom or top
of the picture as the fancy may suggest. If
the line is allowed to remain in the middle
of the print it will give a severe and studied
effect. Then again pleasing results are to
be obtained by trimming the prints into
round, oval and irregular shapes. With a
little ingenuity the operator can shape the
prints to represent leaves, sails, bells and
all sorts of objects, leaving the image intact
and sacrificing only little of the back
ground, which in most cases is unimportant.
To cut irregular shapes successfully, first
make a pattern of the required size, then
trace it, or outline it on the face of the print
and cut it out with scissors or with the edge
of sharp penknife blade.
In this way it is not likely that the oper-
ator will find the process of mounting his
prints monotonous. 1t is important that the
color of the mount and the effect of the
print should harmonic, particularly where
irregular shapes are cut. II the print has
white lights predominating dark mount
should be used and vice versa. The writer
has seen many otherwise attractive pictures
spoiled to a certain extent by lack of Judg-
ment in the mounting. The fayorite tints-
and the bess-in Photographic mounts are
primrose and maroon, the latter being dark
enough and the former light enough for all
purposes.
THE SIZE OF THE PICTURE.
To illustrate that the size of picture has
nothing to do with its attractiyeness it is
only necessary to make few gems" Gem
cards can be obtained from any dealer in
Photographic supplies. Cut few pieces of
sensitized paper of the required size and
print them from the most attractive parts of
some of your negatives. Trim and mount
you will be as we'll pleased with your min
iature as with the larger picture-and so
will your friends, too.
After picture has been printed, toned,
fixed and carefully mounted there remains
onlv one process to make it plete-burn-
ishing. This is done by subjecting it to
steady, even pressure under the influence
OF heat. For this purpose, Furnishing ma
chimes are made, but as they are expensive,
most amateurs find it the more economical
to have their prints FURNISHED by their pro-
fessioEal photographer, who makes only a
nominal charge therefor. The usual price
is about half cent or 1 cent for each print.
This process gives the picture that glossy
appearance and brings it out with more dis
tinctness and warmth. 1t also prevents the
card from curling afterwards.
If the operator does not care to purchase
Al. cunnlio1 hu 1o,
it is simple enough to make up Il quantity
ut home. There are many different WAYS Of
making a suitable aud substantial paste,
among which IS one printed in the american
annual of PtOtogrdphy for 1890, as follows:
The following formula gives convenient
and ready method of making thick, smooth
paste at a minutes notice, suitable for mount
ing all kinds of Photographic prints.
Powdered gum tragasanth. h.............1 i dram
Powdered gum acacia (or dextrne). L dram
Alcohol. .S drams
Mix the spirit with the powdered gums in a
cup afterward adding gradually and with con-
tinual stirring, sufficient cold water to form I
paste of q suitable consistence for the purpose
required.
PREVENTING THE ROLLING.
Many amateurs prefer TO keep their col
lections of prints unmounted, thereby econo-
miziur in room as well as in the trouble
OF mounting. Their chief annoyance is the
inclination of the prints to roll up as soon
as they are released nom pressure, and a
CONSEQUENT cracking of the film. This is
overcome very easily. In order to keen the
unmounted prints fiat, soak them in bath
made up of equal parts Of alcohol, glycerne
and water for q few minutes. Then lay
them between sheets OF Clean blotting paper
under slight pressure. That will avoid the
rolling-up nuisance
fit is preferred to keep the collection in
book form, specially made albums, with
leaves of stiff cardboard, can be procured of
Al. d.alars In this yay a snlend, ,d record