Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.
POOR NEGATIVES AND SOME OF THE CAUSES.
One of the most common mistakes of the young amateur is in not carrying the development of a plate quite far enough. This is shown when the plate, after removing from the fixing-bath, though full of detail, is so thin and weak that it is impossible to get a good print from it, the toning resulting in turning the print to a slaty gray color or an ugly brown. A plate which has been properly exposed but not sufficiently developed may be redeveloped by a process called in photography intensification. Directions for intensifying were given in No. 824, August 13, 1895, but for the benefit of new members of the club we give another formula.
Intensifying Solutions.
No. 1.
| Chloride of ammonia | 100 | grs. |
| Bichloride of mercury | 100 | grs. |
| Water | 10 | oz. |
No. 2.
| Strong ammonia | 2 | drms. |
| Water | 20 | oz. |
If the negative has been washed and dried, soak it for a few minutes till the film is thoroughly wet, then place it film side up in a tray and pour over it enough of solution No. 1 to cover it well. Allow it to remain, rocking the tray now and then, till the image has turned white. Wash thoroughly in several changes of water, place it face up in another tray, and cover it with solution No. 2, leaving it till the image has turned brown. Wash well, and dry. If the negative is still too weak, either repeat the process or redevelop in a weak solution of hydrochinon. Solution No. 1 may be used repeatedly, but solution No. 2 must be thrown away after once using.