Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-09-11
Camera Angles
Easy Formulas for Darkroom Operation
By Alexander J. Wedderburn
Curator Of Photography
The Smithsonian Institution

(VrofoI OF rhoioSFopny
The Smithsonian Institution
Camera fans who do their own
developing and printing get far
more pleasure out Of their hobby
than they did when a photofin-
Usher did the honorS for them.
Other ma teur photographers
wish they had the know-how to
organize a small but competent
darkroom and operate it effec-
lively, but put it off in fear that
the learning process is a formi-
dable one. You don't, have to be
chemist or even know about
chemistry to do your own photo
finishing. You can either learn
as you go along with the aid of
a good book on photography, or
you can take short cut and use
packaged chemicals SO that all
you have to do Is add them to
the right amount Of water and
you are ready to go.
There just isn't any hocus-pocus
about any Photographic process.
All you have to do is follow direc-
lions just as you would in mixing
dough for a batch of biscuits.
There are only three basic chemi-
cal formulas that need concern
the beginner. One is the devel-
oper. This is a solution that
brings out the latent image or
picture that you have recorded on
film when you click the shutter
of your camera.
After the film has been devel-
oped for the right length of time
it is placed for just few seconds
in another bath that is called a
shortstop solution. This bath
simply stops the action of the
developer. From this your film
goes into the third of the formulas
which is known as q fixing bath.
AS the name indicates the fixing
bath fixes" or make the image
permanent. And that is all that
has to be done, except for a brief
washing, to produce the negative
film that is returned to you by
the photofiniSher when he hands
over your prints.
Prints Have Same Process.
Prints are processed in identi-
cal manner. The image on the
film is simply transferred by
means of transmitted light to a
sheet of sensitized paper which
in turn goes through the three
solutions and wash that we de-
scribed above. Photofinishing is
just as simple as that and you can
learn to process your own films
and prints in no time fiat and
save money in the long run If
you are at all enthusiastic about
taking pictures.
To save you the trouble of look
ing up the several formulas that
you will need to know, we are
listing a few of known quality
that will take care of your ordi-
nary needs, together with in
Structions for their use.
First you will want a good gen.
eral-purpose developer for your
film. AS chemical solutions de-
teriorate with age, it is best to
make up stock solution and use
1t as needed. throwing out the
used developer as you go along. A
gallon OF this stock solution will
go a long way. To prepare this,
place So ounces of water Cat 100
degrees F. in dark-colored glass
gallon jar or jug that can be
tightly stoppered. To this add 1913
grains Of mono mythol paramino-
phenal sulphate, then add s
ounces, 176 grains Of sodium sui
fife; next, add l ounce, A grains
OF hydroquinone and add 7 ounces,
264 grains of sodium carbonate;
finally enough water is added to
make the gallon.
Use 1-tO-4 Ratio.
1t is most important to dissolve
the chemicals in the order given
and no chemical should be added
to the solution until its predeces-
sor has fully dissolved. For &C
tual use in developing your film,
dilute one part of this stock So
luton with four parts of water.
Do not try to develop film in the
stock solution under any condi-
lions. If used in a tray the de-
veloper will take 4 to 6 minutesl