A Scarlet Liquid for the Treatment of Negatives in the Art of Photography, by Means of which Liquid Clouds can be made and many other Useful and Artistic Effects Produced.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Scarlet Liquid for the Treatment of Negatives in the Art of
Photography, by Means of which Liquid Clouds can be made
and many other Useful and Artistic Effects Produced.
I, HARRY HIBBERD BEALE of Somerley London Road Reading in the County of
Berks Solicitor do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
"
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It is often found necessary to "doctor up' a negative before it is in a fit state
to give good prints. The negative may be a thin one without any clouds showing
and yet be dense enough to print from with aristotype or similar paper. Of course
clouds can be printed from a cloud negative but this is a trouble. "Nonactinine
is a great help under these circumstances and good clouds can easily be laid on
with this substance at the back of the negative with a soft pieco of rag or wadding
or a large soft brush-the more liquid used the whiter will be the clouds.
This preparation which is the result of much thought and many experiments
consists of a brilliant and transparent permanent scarlet solution of such a naturo
that it may readily be applied to the back of the negative (previously well cleaned)
and when dry cannot be rubbed off in ordinary use. Of course it can be removed
by rubbing with a wet rag if it so desired for the purpose of alteration or doing it
afresh. It may be put on the film side for some purposes but it is risky work. As
to this seo under.
"
"Nonactinine consists of gelatine, aniline red prepared colourless ox gall
creosote and water. To make say 1 pint of it take 1 pint of water (distilled or not,
it does not matter as long as it is clear & pure) and of best sheet gelatine 6+ drachms
(375 grains). Cut the gelatine in pieces & place in the water & allow to soak for
several hours. Then heat gently until the gelatine is dissolved and add 2 drachms
(150 grains) of aniline red (get the best & most permanent sort that can bo
obtained). Then add 14 drachms (75 minims) of the prepared ox gall and lastly
put in about 10 drops of creosote and mix all carefully together by continual
stirring with a glass rod. In preparing the nonactinine it is best to put the
materials in a large jar & place it in another vessel containing water which must be
heated gradually over a stove or fire. If required strain it through muslin before
bottling it.
It is hardly necessary to state that the paper will be acted upon by the light
according to the variation of the depth of colour & this must be arranged to suit
the requirements of each individual negative. In that nonactinine is of a red colour
it is manifest that the application of it to a negative for the purposes herein
mentioned is in accordance with well known scientific principles. Negatives are
like children. In order to make them turn out well each peculiar idiosyncrasy must
be made a matter of study and attention. Suppose again there is a negative in
which the trees and foliage are weak, this may be strengthened by the judicious uso
of nonactinine at the back. Any objectionable part of a negative may be entirely
blocked out by a thick coat of nonactinine. It must be put on as smoothly as
possible in this as in all other cases; it may also be put on the film side of the
negative but very great care must be taken so that it does not trespass on any part
where it is not wanted; for of course it cannot be wiped off like it can when it is on
the back. If it is to be put on the film side there must be no retouching medium or
varnish previously used, if there is any it must all be taken off, otherwise the film
will not take the colour. If there are any transparent spots or flaws or defects in
the negative paint them with nonactinine on the film side several times until they
are a deep red colour. Allow to dry each time before a fresh application. This

page_text: will quite block them out. If desired they need not be painted so deep a colour but
so as to be equal to the surrounding film. Sometimes in a sea view the horizon is
bad & the line of the sea invisible. In such cases it is best to first lightly pencil in
the sea line & then put some nonactinine on a little pad of rag and quickly rub it
along the back of the negativo where the sea line ought to come and make clouds as
well if there are none, but dont disturb the colour on the sea line. Be sure &
leave that sharp and clear. There are many other cases in which this substance can
be used.
In portraits it is a great acquisition & saves the trouble of doing so much
retouching. If there is too much shadow on one side of the face a little nonactinine at
the back will set matters right. Suppose too that the hair has come out weak, just put a
few touches of nonactinine at the back & it will be all right. A little soft paint
brush is best to put small touches with. Sometimes in a portrait the clothing prints
too dark, a little nonactinine at the back will remedy this. For this purpose it
must be put on evenly & to cover all the clothing if required.
If a portrait be taken as a statue & nonactinine is applied all over the face at
the back of the negative the print will have a nice white face & it will render a great
amount of retouching unnecessary in such a case.
If it is desired in any caso to make the colour graduate at the edges it can
easily be done by gently dabbing it with a little soft pad of wadding, slightly
damped if required. The substance can also be scratched carefully away from any
part of tho glass where it may have encroached on portions which are already
sufficiently dark in the negative. When all is done that taste and ingenuity can
suggest & devise in the application of the nonactinine place the negative face
downwards, flat, on a piece of clean paper in a place of safety & free from dust &
it will soon dry & be ready for the printing frame. If when dry there are found to
be any opaque spots &c. (due to a large quantity of nonactinine having been applied
to the back) they must be lightly touched with a paint brush dipped in a little water.
It is best to put a piece of tissue paper over the frame while printing (if in the gun)
this prevents any harshness in the print.
Fine effects can be obtained in platinotype with a negativo treated with nonactinine
but such a negative gives good results with all kinds of papers. Dont forget to
put tissue paper, it gives a soft effect. It is best to warm the bottle before using the
nonactinine & also slightly warm the negative and hold it in a horizontal position
in a good light over a mirror or a piece of white paper while applying the
nonactinine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. That nonactinine is infinitely superior to water colour paints, matt varnish,
coloured varnishes &c. black lead & other similar unsatisfactory & troublesome
substances now in vogue, because it is transparent & makes no nasty marks on the
print.
2. That it keeps moist long enough on the glass to allow of its being worked up
as much as necessary.
3. That it runs on the glass easily & so can be managed with great comfort.
4. It can be applied quickly & it gives fine results.
5. That when an even coat is put on over any clothing or other part of the
negative which has come out weak it has the same effect as if that particular
portion of the negative had been intensified and gives a better and softer print than
that which is generally obtained from an intensified negative.
6. That it helps to reduce the necessity for so much retouching.
7. That it can be easily removed from the back of the negative if required but if
it is left alone it will adhere quite firmly & will not rub off.
8. That clouds &c. can be permanently put on the negative thus doing away with
the necessity of using a cloud negative or other contrivance & as the nonactinine

page_text: can be washed off if so desired other clouds can be worked up if it is wished to make
a variety in the prints from any particular negative.
9. That by its use many a weak & apparently useless negative can be rescued from
destruction & made capable of giving good prints.
10. That nonactinine is a boon to everyone interested in the art of photography.
Dated this 11th day of October 1890.
HARRY H. BEALE.