New-York tribune., 1902-08-31
LESSONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
EIGHTH IN SERIES ON THE ART OF
TAKING GOOD PICTURES.

Only a few general remarks regarding the devel-
opment, printing, toning and mounting OF photo
graphs required to complete the series OF br1el
and helpful hints to amateurs. For the technique
Of all these branches of the art the reader IS
referred TO the numerous handbooks, at least one
of which should be carefully studied by every
woman who aspires to high order of success.
The amateur should look to the same authorities
for formulas for the various solutions required
With regard TO a choice of developing agents, no
hard and fast rule can be safely laid down Each
of the developing chemicals has Its uses ana us
special merits and disadvantage To the earnest
student and the professional thorough familiar
ity with all the developers is important without
it the finer gradations which count for SO much in
producing negatives with special claims to artistic
merit are impossible
There is no better all round developer for the
use of the amateur than combination Of metol
and hydrokinone in the proportion of one part OF
the former 10 three parts Of the latter 1hls IS
the velox paper formula. and IS equally use1ul Ior
dry plate. One who uses only small quahtltS
will find the sealed tubes containing all the chen1-
;cals In proper proportions the cheapest best and
most convenient form in which to purchase Inc
developer for veox should be diluted with three
parts OF water in warm or moderate wealheI anu
tS-o parts in winter 1t pays to use enough deVel-
oner IN he sure that the plate will throughout
the process of development, be completely COW
cred and strengthen the solution with ABOUT d
quarter of an ounce of the concentrated soIutloh
after each four or five plates have been deVel-
oped When the developer becomes slightly milky
in appearance it is exhausted and should be
thrown away. If it assumes deep brown coloF
it is oxidzed by contact with the air. and Is WORTH
1ass Concentrated solutions are best for stock,
because with them a partly exhausted WORKING
solution can be strengthened and made, except IN
extremely hot weather, to produce at least d
dozen negatives of average amateur sizes. III oe
welcoming veIox paper, however, hall dozen
sheets will so exhaust and oxidze two or three
ounces of solution to make it useless or at
least 10 cause 1t 10 stain the paper In very not
weather the developing tray may be set IN
larger tray containing ice water, ana Wheh 'le
dark room is very cold tepd water should De useu
in the same way. If the dark room Is not, the
nIote should be removed from the tray as infre-
ouantIv as possible and returned without unneces-
sarv delay 1t can best be handled with wire tongs
which avoid staining the fingers and peehng the
gelatine from the glass
There is much uncertainty among amateurs "S
70 tho right time to stop developing. Perhaps the
safest guide is examination OF the paek Oh t"e
| nlate When the high lights OF the picture Sho"
strongly through the glass development mas PIo-
ceeded far enough, and the plate Will De DARK eA-
o+ in tho larger masses of shadow, when held up
| "a the ruhv lamp With developers this would
make negative rather too dense, but the hle'oi
| nuinol (the veIox formula) and with elhohoseu'
when fixed this stage the negative Should nave
a good printing density With pyro developer car
INC development so far this would proba bly,
! fog the plate.
| In the developing room let absolute cleanliness
prevail and do not get things mixed. Inc saihe
trav NAV be used for fixing plates and prints ana
| for toning or washing. but not for DEVELOPING a
developing tray should be sacred to developer oIily
| bnt nav be used for both plates and oroIniae
4srersNneyer for toning washing toned gelatlho
/ chioride or aristotype prints. sto
| Plain hypo freshly dissolved is the best nxing g
| hath for amateurs. 1t should not be used after @ II
Becomes colored If the fingers get into the nypo
| ,Itash them well before touching the developing
| ,ra7- ar an undeveloped plate. After plate Is
G~ed DO not drop developer on it or handle Ii WIFI
Ia,,ooner wet fingers. yellow spots are sure to re
enit from such carelessness. After the plate Is
vad
lo 1n"Lo = seconds in tray half filed with water
Containing as much powdered alum as II can i ais
i,te hui no more. This will harden the MIN
So 70 nrevert frIlling and peeng In the subsequen
| washing and handling Only one rot a,o ol MI.
1be celuIoid contains ingredients which spoil th'
solution. .,..b o- loro eoIio n,
| aIbrTns-shoud be printed somewhat deeper ta4i
| anSf-nJ ard toned as directed by the makers 10
osTnfui not 10 get developer into the toning ira!
! % ~ ss hiotches that are ineurabe VIII result
III IL VIII E not affect the prints injuriously unless