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.
A HOME-MADE VIGNETTING-GLASS.
A short time ago directions were given for vignetting pictures, using empty plate-boxes with an opening covered with tissue-paper. This is a good way to vignette pictures, but a new box must be prepared for each kind of vignette desired. By using a sheet of ground glass in a frame and painting on it with a non-actinic paint, water-color paint, a vignetting glass is made which is always ready for use by simply washing off the paint and covering again, leaving the shape of the vignette clear.
The frame for the glass may be of wood, or one can take an empty plate-box a little larger than the printing-frame, cut out the bottom, and put the glass in its place, gluing strips of cloth along the edge to hold it in place. The ground side of the glass should be uppermost.
Mark on the glass with pencil the shape of the vignette, have some Gihon's opaque—which is a non-actinic water-color—and paint the glass with it, except in the place marked for the vignette. The paint should be mixed quite thick and be applied evenly, so that the light cannot shine through the glass except where the vignette is to be made. Along the edges of the opening work the paint with a piece of moist surgeon's cotton, which will give a soft effect in the printed picture. A new vignette is made by washing the glass and applying the paint in a different shape. This device for making vignetted pictures will be found very handy, and one which can be easily prepared.
Sir Knight W. Ryerson asks to have the rules of the competition published; what the cause of the yellowish color is in the finished negative; the expense of putting up a reasonable amount of toning solution; and the necessary qualifications to belong to the Camera Club. The competition rules were published in the Round Table for October 6. The yellowish color in the negative is caused by the unused silver salts not being thoroughly dissolved out of the film. If a toning solution is prepared with chloride of gold and sodium with bicarbonate of soda, it will cost 35c. for the chloride of gold and sodium, and 5c. for the bicarbonate of soda. Put the 15 grs. of gold and soda into 7½ oz. of water. This is the stock solution. Put the bicarbonate of soda in water, using just enough water to dissolve it. To make the bath for use, take 3½ oz. of water, and ½ oz. of the gold solution. Dip a piece of blue litmus into the solution, and if it does not turn the paper red, add a little more of the gold solution. Add to this a few drops of the bicarbonate of soda, till it turns the litmus-paper back to blue. Mix the bath half an hour before it is needed. To be a member of the Camera Club one must be an amateur photographer. To join the club, send name and address and state your wish to the editor of the Camera Club.
Sir Knight Wilbur T. Helm, Jun., and Sir Knight Hall M. Crossman ask whether a pocket-kodak picture can be entered in the prize competition, and which is the best film or plate. The pocket-kodak pictures are under the size allowed, 4 by 5 being the smallest size entered. The Stanley, Carbutt, Cramer, Seed, as well as other standard makes, are all good plates. Eastman and Carbutt films are both fine.
