Holding the plate in the left hand, take the developer bottle in the right, hold it over the plate near the left hand, let the first finger of the right hand rest against the edge of the plate, tilt the bottle so that the developer will run on the plate; at the same time move p35 the right hand toward the other end of the plate rather quickly, letting the developer run in a steady, but not copious stream; deflect the plate with the left hand at the same time, so that the solution will flow from you in such a manner that the whole surface of the plate may be covered with the liquid at nearly the same time as possible. Now set down the bottle and keep the plate in motion, so as to cause the solution to have an equal action on every part of the surface. Very soon the image will appear and brighten, until every part of the detail comes out, and when it begins to look as if fading away or becoming less distinct the development is finished.
This can be ascertained with more certainty at this time by holding the plate so as to be able to look through it toward the light, so as to examine its density, remembering that the high lights should be quite dense and the medium shadows be full of detail. One very soon learns to know the proper density.
The plate should be now very thoroughly washed, to free the surface from the iron before fixing.
Great care should be taken in this manipulation to cover the plate quickly with the solution, holding it all on the plate. As the development is made by the precipitation of the free silver on the surface of the film upon the latent image, none of the free silver should be washed from the plate by a flood of developing solution carrying it off the surface.
FIXING SOLUTION
Hyposulphite of soda is generally considered to be the most suitable fixing agent for negatives, although some prefer cyanide of potassium. p36
The hyposulphite, however, is the safest, both for the plate and for the operator. One pound of hyposulphite of soda to a gallon of water will make a solution of a suitable strength to clear a negative as rapidly as is necessary, and it should be contained in a flat dish. When from much use the fixing solution becomes muddy, it should be thrown into a suitable receptacle for liquid wastes, as it is rich in silver.
Leave the negative in the fixing solution until all the iodide of silver is dissolved from the film, and no trace of the yellowish deposit can be seen by transmitted light.
When the negative is thoroughly cleared, if it is found that it lacks density or, in other words, is not intense enough, wash it very carefully to free it from every trace of the soda solution, and then proceed to strengthen it in the following manner: