HOW TO SALT PAPER.

Salting paper is the process by which photographic paper is coated with chloride of sodium (common salt), chloride of ammonium, or chloride of barium, and salted paper is pure photographic paper which has been immersed or floated in a salting-bath and then dried. Paper prepared especially for photographic use is the best; but paper which is free from impurities may be used. Whatman's drawing-paper is a good paper. The paper is first salted, and when dry the sensitizing solution is applied.

To salt paper with chloride of sodium, take 20 oz. of water and 30 grs. of common salt; dissolve the salt in the water and filter; put this solution in a flat dish larger than the sheets of paper to be salted. Select the smoothest side of the paper, and turn back two corners diagonally opposite to each other. Take hold of the paper by these corners and lower the sheet of paper gently into the solution. See that every portion of the surface is thoroughly wet, but do not let the paper touch the bottom of the dish. Let it remain in the solution for one minute; then, if it appears to be thoroughly covered, pin it up to dry, with the side which was salted turned outward. To sensitize this paper, take nitrate of silver, ½-oz., and water, 10 oz. After it is dissolved take out 3 oz., and to the remaining 7 oz. add strong ammonia-water, drop by drop. A brownish precipitate will form, but keep adding the ammonia till the solution is nearly or quite clear, then turn in the other 3 oz. and filter. This solution may be put in a flat dish, and the paper be sensitized by floating it on the solution, or it may be spread on with a brush, according to directions given in No. 869.

To salt paper with chloride of ammonium make a solution as follows:

Chloride of Ammonium	32	grs.
Water	4	oz.
Gelatine	8	grs.

Put the gelatine in the water, and set the vessel containing it in a dish of hot water until the gelatine is dissolved. When it is cold add the chloride of ammonium, and either float according to directions just given, or apply the solution with a brush.

To sensitize, take 1 oz. of water and 60 grs. of nitrate of silver. Dissolve thoroughly and brush the paper with this solution. Brush evenly and lightly both ways of the paper, so as to avoid a streaked appearance. Print and tone the same as for aristo prints. The combined toning-bath gives good results. The tone of the prints closely resembles platinum prints.

Another process for salting paper is:

Chloride of Ammonium	3	grs.
Chloride of Sodium	3	grs.
Water	2	oz.

Apply this solution with a brush, or float the paper on the bath. To sensitize, take 60 grs. of nitrate of silver and 1 oz. of water. Add ammonia-water, drop by drop, till 25 drops have been used. The solution at first turns muddy, but continue dropping the ammonia till it clears. If it does not clear after the 25 drops have been added clear by filtering. Sensitize as per former directions.

This paper is very easily prepared, is inexpensive, and gives fine delicate prints. Do not print much deeper than is desired for the finished print. One may use a toning and fixing bath combined, or a separate toning and fixing bath may be used.

One can sensitize a strip at the head of a letter or a corner of a visiting-card; and print the same as any paper.

The paper can be bought ready salted, but it is not always fresh. It is very little trouble to salt paper and to sensitize it, and the cost is much less than when paper is bought ready prepared. The plain paper should be used within two or three days after sensitizing with the silver, but the salted paper keeps well, and may be sensitized as needed.

Mark the sensitized paper on the wrong side lightly, as it is hard to distinguish the sensitive side. When dry these prints are so flat and the paper is so thin that they make nice book illustrations.

Sir Knights Fred. W. Long and Fred. D. Rose wish to know in what numbers of the Round Table the "Papers for Beginners" may be found. In Nos. 812, 813, 814, 816, 817, 818, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 832, 838, 840, and 842. See also the late numbers for "Chemistry for Amateur Photographers."

E. Lester Crocker, Tarrytown-on-Hudson, New York, wishes to be enrolled as a member of the Camera Club.