Volltext Seite (XML)
15G THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [March 28, 1862. Ualk in tbe Studio. Puke NrrRATE of Silver.—Photographers have for so long been accustomed to the use of nitrate of silver, containing more or less of impurity, that few persons expect to make a bath which works at once, giving rich negatives, without some doc toring. We have recently received from Mr. Solomon a sample purporting to be “pure recrystalized nitrate of silver,” put up in sealed tubes, each containing an ounce, which, on trial, proves everything which we could wish. On adding the proper quantity of water and iodide and filtering, the first plate pro duced a rich negative, free from streaks, fog, or greyness; pre senting a fine creamy bloom by reflected light, and a reddish brown deposit, with sufficient intensity, by transmitted light, when developed with iron. If the same quality can always be guaranteed at the price, which is very slightly in advance of that of the common quality,; i will be a decided boon to photo graphers. It is certainly, wurth a trial. Shaping Photographs.—An ingenious aid to the cutting of cartes and other photographs has just been introduced by Mr. Solomon. It consists of a plate of glass on which to cut, fixed in a frame which revolves on a centre. When the glass shape is placed on the picture in the usual way, and one side cut, it is necessary to turn round the picture and shape to cut the other side, in doing which there is great danger of moving the shape or guide from its position. In the contrivance of which we are speaking, the glass plate upon which both are placed to be cut, is moved round on its centre, obviating any risk of moving the guide, and materially facilitating rapid and correct cutting. Some very excellent and nicely finished guides of all shapes, made of thick plate-glass are also provided. Photography is Avenged.—Most of our readers will be aware that the beauty of the interior of the International Exhi bition is stated to be entirely spoiled by the French department being entirely boarded up into one large box, instead of being open, so as to contribute its quota to the grand coup d’ocil. It is stated that one important object of this boarding is to furnish a huge screen on which to hang enlarged photographs, the chief of which is the portrait of a horse, life-size. If, as photo graphers believe, their art has been slighted in the programme of the Exhibition, it is here avenged, and asserts its importance with sufficient force to contribute largely, although indirectly, to spoiling the whole effect of the interior. U0 Correspoudents. giGMA.—It is customary in speaking of the enlargement of photographs to refer to lineal measurement. The table in the Photographic News Almanac refers to this measurement: thus, when a picture is stated to be enlarged four times, four diameters, or sixteen areas is meant. We have not seen the drying box to which you refer ; nor can we undertake to say which form of drying box is best. J. C. W.—You will doubtless be able to obtain the materials for the manufac ture of collodion from any respectable photographic chemist. The house you mention is a wholesale house. If you wish to purchase very large quanti ties, your best plan will be to get the addresses of various establishments from the Loudon Directory. If you send us a card, and a stamped and addressed envelope, we will roll it as you desire. No. 39 of the Photo graphic News is in print. G. E. W.—We see no reason to doubt that the agent in question would send you the genuine lens of the maker for whom he is agent. As to its quality, we can, of course, say nothing. We have often repeated in this column that cheap French lenses not unfrequently turn out pretty good ; but that for absolute certainty of obtaining a thoroughly good lens, we recommend those who can afford it, to apply to first class London makers. Having purchased a lens you cannot compel the dealer to refund the money. We believe the agent in question is a respectable man, and will do his best for you ; but in such cases take care to be conciliatory instead of angry in your letters. L. L. H.—-Sugar of milk is made by evaporating whey until it crystallizes. Volumes iii. and v. of the Photographic News are in print, and may be had of the publisher. The other volumes are out of print. A Westmoreland Laker.—We have not found the difficulty you mention in using albumen containing a little free ammonia. A correspondent recently recommended the use of acetic acid for the purpose of preserving the albumen. We have not tried the plan, but it may possibly answer your purpose. Why not try a dry collodion process, say either simply washed collodion, or the tannin process, since eggs are so scarce, dear, and difficult to get fresh in your neighbourhood ? M. H.—We have seen some very fine and delicate negatives on turpentine or camphine or waxed paper ; but for small work, such as you name, we do not think that any paper process will equal collodion. II. V C.—Each of the portrait specimens sent have good qualities, but they would each, with the amount of illumination they have had, have borne a trifle longer exposure. No. 2, with a very little more exposure and a little intensifying, would have made a very good picture. The stopping out of the sky in the stereograph has the effect of making all the rest of BROMI Sul® When any e5 name ; but we should prefer a much weaker solution. A especial treatment, and a trial should, at least, be given. 0. EADES. with ten cation take: mental purposes. electro-plated goods. exposure to the atmosphere. R. H. Mason.— Your letter is withdrawn as you request. Excelsior, J. II. K., and some other correspondents in our next. times its weight of water for a few hours, until it is dissolved, purchased ready prepared, and it will be better to obtain it so for formula is supplied with a collodion, it should be regarded as an tion that the maker considers his collodion as working best under feeor ahaheni 30 gm J. W. Whelan.—We find there is no possible chance of obtaining space, at the International Exhibition. The space already allotted isinc derable excess of that which can be actually used. You will be ab exhibit at the Crystal Palace. A. D.—The best mode of printing-in separate skies has repeatedly “ described in our pages. See an article by Mr. Fry on p. 350 of our fo" volume. B.—The triple lens which will suit your half-plate camera, is that intep for pictures 6 in. by 5 in., and is the one used by Mr. Wilson for 7 in. by 4} in. landscapes. As to whether it or the single lens is bes taking views is a point on which opinions differ. Its advantages’ perfect freedom from distortion, great depth of definition, and include very wide angle. The advocates of the single lens claim for it brilliancy. 2. The reason why some difficulty exists in procuring efticz yellow glass, arises from the fact that efficiency cannot always be dd mined merely by colour, and those who deal in the material do notal^ test it. Hence it becomes necessary for each person to test his 0 before using it. There is no doubt but what the material used W' first-class professional photographers you name can be purchased by one else ; but those gentlemen have to test in the first instance just same as any one else. A. N.—You do not state with sufficient precision the nature of the reda which spoils your dry plates when developing. Is it a red deposit foggy nature, or does the whole film become red and transparent? So as we can understand your description, the evil appears to arise from, composition in imperfectly washed, or too long kept plates. Over ex sure, in certain conditions, will sometimes produce similar results; S0 times the use of citric acid in the developer will remedy such an evil specimen you enclose is very good ; the stopped out sky is its only def G. Lewis.—The time required to develop a collodio-albumen negative" plain pyrogallic acid will vary according to the temperature and the® sure. A properly exposed plate, developed with a solution at a teDP ture of 60° Fah., will occupy from two to five minutes. Intensify with Py citric acid, and silver, as recommended by Mr. Mudd. Increasing temperature of the developer will hasten its action, but this is not?" sary except where the exposure has been short. S. 11. A.—We believe Bull, Brothers, whose advertisement you will our pages, make solid pedestals, &c., as well as profiles. Mr.F Great Russell Street, also supplies them. One that is Uninsured.—We do not know of any assurance office" makes a speciality of photographic materials or photographic lives. F respectable office will undertake them. . . a I -dueml, cilia d nun S—uI «U -ed51 uu given. qu8. e v " I.—Water-glass is made by igniting fifteen parts of powdered lr N SAme :n parts of crude potassa and one part of charcoal, till perfect 0 q. En, Lakes place. This mass is then powdered and boiled Wiu "jq, . 8 weight of water for a few hours, until it is dissolved. It Gspe ]| Iff ] d ready prepared, and it will be better to obtain it so for fri ga col] ' purposes. We do not think it will be found suitable forpresentd - bron: lated goods. In our hands it has always become efhlores hiyn 1 P Sam 8uaphst n high ""t,g q K Open hi, of WPracti f r • Advertisements and Communications for the Publisher Po current number, to be addressed to the Office, 82 F “Pot noster Row, not later than 3 o’clock every Thursday- , Office Orders are to be made payable to Mr. Thomas II the Money-Order Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand. deal of information on the subject. J E. Parsons.—If agitating with kaolin and then filtering does not clear- bath, add a few drops of a solution of common salt, or of citric acidc agitate. This will cause a slight precipitate, which in falling will e with it the colouring matter. 2. We have never tried the formuiec "°vever. Point to "ired an 11 these c Bathered tralmen pliotograj we rem; liered on ind Pyro; dily ackn lized the haintaine imply io Dore sens 9pment. Alvays m; "ne pictu 4 simple i Gons wen Catses be' ifficult t “evelopm &mod cont Sondition Knowir Afirst-rat Tenee an G. G.—You may prevent the sliding tube of your lens from moving s0® as to shift by the slight touch of uncapping by a variety of meansi, there is no especially prescribed method. A slight bulge in the tube e do it; or the introduction of a little india rubber in solution betweelle tubes, or in short anything that will make them “ bite ” against eachot 2. The only means of preventing your lantern from getting too hot, reduce the size of the flame, enlarge the lantern, or increase the allll or number of the apertures at the top, so as to allow the heated air P rapidly to escape. A. Lane.—Our pages for some time past have contained various article card portraitsand the various formul most suitable, so that it is dit to select any especial numbers as referring to that subject. The nWv for Feb. 7 contains a brief article, embodying some useful hints 0o subject. The Photographic News Almanac for this year contains® ' ula ofpeas ed3 N’aris, inb iS.h St the picture look dingy. We prefer sheeting calico stretched upon and painted dark grey, cither in distemper or oil flatting, for a backgrot A blanket, carefully stretched, and the sitter placed three or fourfe least in advance, may be used with good effect. It is important to 5 the blanket well out of focus, so as to prevent the appearance of textur the background. There is no necessity to reject a silver bath so long* is working well: add fresh strong solution from time to time to keep the strength and quantity. We cannot with propriety recommend collodion of any particular maker here. The one you name has ther tatiou of being very good, so have Thomas’s, and Burfield and Rou bromo-iodized collodions, and also Ponting’s. A sky ought never to n intensifying in excess of the rest of the picture; where anything ot kind is attempted, the destruction of harmony in the picture is the res A little tint in the sky is infinitely preferable to a sky of white PaP . Your formula? all appear good : facilities for a little more control over 1 Where t lighting of the sitter appear to be the only want , time past G. 8. S.—There is a « preparation” for sizing albumenized paper photogra, oon.n prior to the use of water colours, sold by Newman, of Soho Square, " • 1 11 answers admirably. In strengthening a toning bath of gold and ace of soda, you should not add simply solution of chloride of gold, but at quantity of unused solution, as made at first, of gold and acetate of S0d3
