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THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. Von. XIII. No. 539.—January 1,1869. CONTENTS. PAGI Photography during the Past Year 1 Paper Sensitized with Carbonate of Silver 2 The Art Claims of Photography 3 Foreign Miscellanea — 5 Silver Printing—Advantage of Thin Films. By William Blair 5 Dry-plate Washing Box. By A. Seeley 6 On Dry Plate Processes. By A. de Constant 7 PAGE On the Production of Photographic Enamels 8 Scientific Gleanings 9 Correspondence—Operating Experiences—Cockling of Large Prints in Pressure Frame 10 Talk in the Studio 10 To Correspondents 11 Photographs Registered 12 PHOTOGRAPHY DURING THE PAST YEAR. In glancing, at the close of each year, at the progress made during its flight, the mental vision naturally endeavours to find repose on some special landmarks which definitively indicate the steps of advance which have been secured. The domain of photography during the past year presents few such landmarks : the tide of improvement has flowed steadily on, but its results have been gradual and general, no startling novelty or great discovery in the art finding a place in the year’s records. It has, nevertheless, been an active year, and, despite some degree of commercial depres sion in connection with photography, a spirit of inquiry and of general interest in the art itself has prevailed amongst all associated with it. One of the great guarantees of the continued progress of photography is found in the readiness of the mass of photographers to re-examine, when fairly challenged at any time, the bases of their operations. Without aban- doning processes by which they secure" success, the mass of professional or amateur photographers will at once give attention, and, if necessary, experiment, to new principles and new modes of working. A notable illustration has occurred during the year in the attention devoted to Mr. McLachlan’s announcement. By this gentleman the wet collodion process as generally practised was arraigned and placed on its trial. Its uncertainties, its defects, its unphilosophical character, were affirmed with energetic iteration. Notwithstanding that the mass of skilled prac tical photographers habitually obtained fine negatives by the process, the possibility of obtaining still higher results, with more absolute certainty, was a proposition which excited general and expectant attention. The subsequent announcement of the method of working by which greater certainty and higher excellence were to be attained scarcely realized the anticipations which had been excited; but renewed attention was called to some points before known, but worthy of more attention and consideration. The value of sunning a bath very thoroughly was strikingly illustrated by Mr. McLachlan’s experiments, and by the discussion of the question a more perfect light was thrown on the nature of the action produced. . Mr. Rejlander's subsequent proposition to keep the nitrate bath con tinually exposed to, instead of shielded from, daylight, has been in several cases carried into beneficial effect. One of the most important facilities yet proposed for rectifying a disordered nitrate bath has been introduced by Mr. J. R- Johnson during the year. A couple of years ago Mr. Crookes, in these pages, suggested the use of per manganate of silver for purifying water to be used for silver baths. Mr. Johnson proposed oxidizing—and so eliminating the organic impurities which had accumulated in a nitrate bath from use, or had been introduced into it from the use of impure water—by means of a solution of permanganate of potash or permanganic acid; and the remedy, when judiciously applied, has been found most efficient. Modes of developing have not undergone much variation. The rage for organic additions to the iron solution has subsided, leaving photographers, however, with some additional power in this direction. The use of gelatine, sugar, &c., has been found of great value in some cases where clean shadows and vigorous lights were important, and difficult to secure. The organic additions in such cases have been found invaluable. In the majority of cases—where the nature of the subject and the character of the lighting permit—the plain iron solution with a little acid is most commonly used. For intensifying purposes, where intensifying is rsequired, the organic iron solution are found useful, and are largely employed. An important addition to our knowledge in regard to development was made by Mr. Robinson in the observation that intensity might be increased by keeping the plate in motion during development; whilst softness and detail may be obtained by keeping the plate still after the developer has been poured upon it. Dry processes have not made great progress during the year. The use of iron development with Mr. Gordon’s gum process has been found of great value ; the process itself has been more extensively used, and generally with much success. M. de Constant, an indefatigable and highly trustworthy experimentalist, has formed a high estimate of its value, and the results he has produced by it are exceedingly fine. The same gentleman has worked the coffee process with much success. Some examples we have seen of a new process, not yet described, give promise of a dry process of rare sensitiveness and yielding very fine results. The collodio-bromide process and its modifications have received much attention during the year, and the reports generally upon its results, especially with the Liverpool dry plates, have been generally very favourable. Moist preservative processes have received some attention during the year, the claims of honey having been revived. The advantages of the moist morphine process have also received additional testimony. Printing processes have received considerable attention. Silver printing, despite the varied improvements made in carbon operations, still seems destined to play an important part in photographic operations for many years to come. Albuminized paper printing has reached a very high stan dard of excellence. Plain paper printing has for some years almost entirely ceased to bo practised, but there are not wanting indications of some degree of reaction in its favour. For many purposes such a movement would be desirable. We shall have more to say on the subject, but
