COLLODION AND THE MAKING OF WET-PLATE NEGATIVES Eastman Kodek Company * Rochester, N. Y. 1935HOW COLLODION IS PRODUCED Czar pmae by siainga ie tion prain in ‘mixtute of equal parts of alcohol and ether. To make this sl- ile otto, cost fibre x teated wih a mixture of nitric and sul Dhuriearik. eis then very thoroughly wathed with water wget rid btall the acids, Afer being completly dried itis disolved in the Sleolel and ether, and such diwoved, nitrated cotton foes pain ‘allan, THE FUNCTION OF COLLODION Collodion is wed in wee-pate negative making as 4 convenient rnedium to pour on glass plat in oer to form asta vehicle to hold varius iodides, When the film of collodion and iodides i treated with a silver niente solution, the foes ae converted into Ser inde. This is held supended in the cllodin, and provides the sensitive material npon which the latent image 5 formed by exposure to light. Eastman Plain Colltion will keep indefinitely as long asi i 201 fedize; i fac, i rather improsex by keeping. Tis not sensitive to Tight, even when the iedizer is added. Only when the ized collo- hom is placed in the silver bath i a silver iodide formed. This ‘precipitates in the colladion film, and is ensitve to ight. After ex posure has formed a latent image, the developer causes the silver From ihe bath solution which remains onthe surace ofthe Ble wo be deposited in the form of metalic ser on the latent image. Fixing Femoves the iodide of ver, and all tha remains isthe metalic slver image deposited om the cliodion fm “The following pages describe the best astman Callerion, ad trace, afar as posible, the elect of various conditions upon the results hors for the we4 Collodion and the Making of Wet-Plate Negatives 5een claimed. tha albumen will cause 1, but a oo thin cat ing has been known feopereet rote rust he perfectly even free from specks and THE COLLODION so.ution Eastarax Complete Colledion is supplied okng the plain col Add the cantents a. The colletion is th iedizer wo half gallon of plain colad pete andl ready Tor use. Dr wat a Ematman Callodion is always nde up in vey lage ser the mont rigid texts at every stage, andi dependably uiform reo its amature ii tered unde pressure darugh = fiter ie Wit found aecenary fer it again at any’ time af izing, ase a sal Filter lonely fied with Eastman Filter Cotton, This speeds up the operation and minimise evaporation, Mix at one time only enough for a two- or three-week suppl Aer mixing the one with tle the collodion sane to ripe. in aifsed light oF darknew—not in direct sualight oF hear an are is inmproses it, How long it shouldbe ripened depend pon conditions. 6 Collodion and the Making Ripening can be imitated by aig an aleobolic solution of idin to the calladion unt i i Bight orange-browa color. Tes not cer nin, however, that this given en good remlts as natural sipering. 4 compromise method is to ipen the cllodion for four how and then 10 add 15 mains (1 e€.) of a 34% (05%) nein alcohol to ach eight fd ounces or 240 The e tet temperature is between 65° and 7 ution of ation vluton wil ot werk wel i oo wari Th Ifyou are compelled to work in very warm weather te aabl to place the elton on ie THINNING COLLODION Estat Complete Collation will never be found too thin, bs if thane ellodion is requted, add a mixture of equal parts of pure grain alcohol and ether tothe plain edlledion. ‘Then add to ounces Ut iodizer to every hal gallon of the thinned plain eollion. If illo is requned, we. Eastin Special Todier, which contains more solvents as well sx ioizer of thinner and alo wflersro a diferent formula. ‘Take Phin Collodi. ‘Ths gives a go per ent thianer col Esher may be used to thin out regularly iodized ollion that has romne 100 thick fr (oo) sleohol or acetone prevent the ripening of the eolldio Since common denatured alsoids contain ane of both ofthese, natured alobol should not be mixed with negative collodion, ad tion. Small amounts of sets al trace of thee liquids shouldbe died out of any bots ‘wed for cllodion, LINE AND HALFTONE COLLODION Exsraay Collodion is equally good for line and halftone work hatfonesreen negative fs exactly the same asa line negative, ins much asthe black halftone dots must be ax dense as posible and the ‘ear spaces quite transparent. Ir the collion is god fr line work itis alo good for seeen negative making, and vice vers, However, ityou hove both od and new cllodion, ewe th old for ine work the new fr halftone, beeae the new cllodion is faster TI you are using «ies iodine ellodion for line work, be cae {al at to everexpone. To get the the cllodion after thas been iodized for some time st reruls with fne line work, se of Wet-Plate Negatives iCOATING THE PLATE 8 Collodion and the Making of Wet-Plate Negatives 9Cate in the methods of coating applies just as much to rubber sotation aed stripping lotion or the negative. Streaks visible the negative afer strippine see wavaly caused by cartes coating. Sometimes this also lead 0 ‘he sping ofthe image, expecially ia halftone negatives tallodion (ee page 28) a8 to coating the cal ‘When the fl ofollion has st 1 a jlly-like comsteney—but befare ic has full dred-—the plate i at once immersed inthe sler sensitizing bath, ‘The proper tie toda this can be ascertained by ouching one of the thickened elges with a finger, which should Jeave at fmpresion on the fmm but shoul not steko t,t hot weather its expecially importanc ta immerse the plate very promp! is because i this delayed he end fist flowed wil ry and fal THE SILVER BATH A exes silver bath consists of silver nitrate and water. Dialed ‘water dou be sed unlew experience shows the leal water apply to be satsactory Tn a clean white dass bot, dsolve IK tap water i sed, set the Bote in sunight until che p setled and the bath is perecly clear The strength ofthe bath may’ he checked with an Eastman Hy omen Pos ome solution into the glas eylindr supplied with the hydrometer. Bing he temperate 69F 15°C), wth thea of ‘las thermometer, Now ont the hydrometer in it, reading th Seale where it is eut by the lower surface of the liquid. (See cut) The sale should read "35 grains of ver pe Suid ounce,” mean ing that every id ounce of solution contains 95 grains of silver nitrate. In percentage, this ie approximately 7.3% llver alate bs weight. the hydrometer reading ehecks the weights used in mak ing up the slution, you can be sure thatthe hydrometer is arcuate Future baths can then be made spy from a concentrated siber solution, being brought to correct strength with the hydrometer This removes the need of weighing ad measuring. All hydrometers should be checked occasionally, however, ax they bave been known to change through accident 10 Collodion and the Making reife abe iT (rending fom There ino definite evidence that a bath of anyother sength chan that given on page 10 offer any advantages, Newriteles Sereshaustion, ofthe slveraitate. T's made up as monly employed To allow for the wsig-ip, the more nearly neutral i i the beter the negative obtained), proved the tempera th raom aad solution is below 70°F, (21°C). This of ‘of Wet-Plate Negatives "to aighlyaciify the bath, to reduce fog Te hasbeen customary to test he reaction of the bath with finns papers. fcc ed lames blu, tial; if turns elms red, i is aid: while if both trois papers are unchanged, itis new tral tis. Tt scommon inthe trade to ald nitric acid one dup at 2 sme, unl the bath tore ue limes paper pink seconds. This old-lashioned testis, hoeever, too untelisble to mec! node conditions. Litmis is one ofthe most variable of indicators ny thatthe bath ie atthe right acidity, or even that its aid tal. A bath might give fog throu bring too alkaline, and sil west disinedy acid to certain samples of Theve isn longer any reason for relying upon litmus paper, since lndieator ses ae available at relatively lw ca, by which the etal DH values of the bath ean be measured closely enough fr wetplae purposes." One need not be a chemist to se these mesurements. When iti used, there is no PIP” is a number giving the reaction ofthe bath, Tt mut enough to know that a bath i acid ie important to know fe acid it is Tn the pH scale, lower numbers are more ack, higher mumbers ar amore alkaline or le acid. The pH ofa fresh silver nitente sl fs about 5,4. This hasbeen known as a neutral bath. At this pt callodins will be variable and generally show fog~-sometimes very high fog, A ac i ald, the pT becomes lower, 47 #0 appear tobe an excelent range forthe silver bath. AtpH= 4.8 th indicator Bromeresol Green it blue-green coor, and at pl 44 i nish yellow. The easet way forthe photographer poder by the si With the color of indicator papers or solutions. who Kosa. Since the po ing idle, especially unde Pils to compare the indicator ¢ pit is asilver bath may change even when stand. the action of light, it should be ebeked the bah wll hod ple i over night a lange ple tf the silver halides willbe dissolved and establish a balance. 1h isnot done, afresh bath will pail the fist few negatives, by dil ing ser inde out ofthe emulion The ection on Maintaining the Siter Bath pages 14 t0 17 i im portant, and deserves careful sty THE DIPPING VESSEL Thr colldionized plates Aept for that purpose onl. should be made of hae ub porcelain, Substitutes for thee materiale give Posograpaie trouble The vesel takes the form of « deep, narruw tank, known ax dipping bath," in which the plate dipped veri ing tray in which the plate is Ind ate Ta eidher ease the baths provided witha lowe cover of the seme material asthe ¥ There two types of baths are dicumed fae her under the head Silwr Bath (ee pages SENSITIZING THE PLATE Seribed on page to, the Pats ie tomes ts the silver bath, A si fer oF hard-rabher alder i wed 10 To the plate int the dip- ping bath, o a siker frook to th ray bath, From rT Collodion and the Making he plate must be han” paying ue eotomontzeD PLATE led in orange light INTO THe VaR BAT of Wet-Plate Negatives 13The plate must be immersed in the bath sluson in ane even movement, 20 that the solution covers the plate without a stp otherwise “hath-mark’ line will show in the negative Ita dipping bath is used, the plate is moved gently at aon ai is placed inthe solution. Ifa tray is used, the ray ie rocked. This movement is repeated oceasonaly ding senstizng, which should be completed in about 3 minutes. Ifthe bath i alcoholic, leave the plate in for about one minute alter all greasines has disappeared. Before withdrawing the plate tom the solutin, be sure tht your hhands are clean so that no dirt will adhere ta the plate or get into the bath. ‘Then take out the pat, allowing as much solution to drain bach int the bath as posible Set the plate on a clean piece Eaten Ring Paves nw te back with ote Fae fora intlest Provide te ack alle of he pat hkler witha sip of long paper on which the plate may be st, to abuorb the silver drainings, ‘The later are corrosive and soon ruin any woodwork with which ‘hey come into contact. Plate holders should be wiped careflly ‘with a damp rag atthe end of the day's work, and al parte which silver deaiiogs are able to touch should be coated with shellac once a week When a colldionized place is pu ino the silver bath, the silver nitrate combines with the iodides in the eollodion andl forms silver iodide. Tie sive creamy film, and its sometimes thowght that the whiter the appearance ofthe place in the bat, the better the snogatives willbe This not, There i one certain proportion of ladides which, itis present in| the collodien, will give the densest image, ‘Thi amount is eontained inthe Eastman Todizer. More iodides will not yiedl a beter nega tive, and therefore dhe extra iodides, although they make the plate look whiter in the bath, have no good effet whatever The sensized plate should be placed in the camera inmate, and exposure started; otherwise some fits sensitivity wil be lot MAINTAINING THE SILVER BATH ‘Tw slver bah isthe most important solution used in the wes plate proces, and great care should be exeried nS preparation snd we. Gleannes is esental Keep all dust and contaminating sib= Staneeeavray from the bath, Have the darkroom clean, thoroughly ‘ented and fee fom dus otha dhe bah may be left uncovered Without any danger. ‘This has the advantage of allowing the colo ‘ign solvents in used bath to evaporate to some extent. Use East ‘man Silver Nitrate, because i made expecially for photosraphic work. ‘An ideal silver bath would consist only of seater silver nitrate; sand a small quantity of ler foie, bat from the moment ite put into wse impatities in the form of by-product begin to for, Silver nist not be wasted, em account ofthe cox, and the hath must dere fore be kept in eantinuous seas Ing a8 possible. Maintaining the tba in good working condivion is an exential pare of wet-plate work. ‘When the plates dipped nto the bath the soluble halides (het iodides) cari in the olloion react with the silver nitrate to frm insoluble silver lide. ‘This appears ax a milky supension in the collodion film, and gives it its sensitivity. For each molecule of Sikver ioide formed, there is formed an equivalent quantity af the nitrates of the ins that were orginally combined with the iodine ‘eg, cadmivin, lithium, ammonium, ete. These neve nitrates ane ‘en colle, and accumulate inthe at as by-products Every grain of silver nitrate which decomposes to form silver fodide is replaced by more than half ae mich cadmium and other nitrates, Siver and cadmium nitrate solutions of equal suength have neatly the same specific gravites. The natural evaporation of the solution might just make up fer the eifeence in weights ofthe salts a thatthe bath, if meanired with the hygrometer, would ap parently say atthe tame strength, while the seal silver content ‘would be getting les and les. Therefore the consumption of silver Irate cannot he checked by the hydrometer text.” An old bith right test 40 grain per Buid ounee, yet contain only grains of| ‘iver slate, Sometimes the bath texts heavier the longer its used, ‘due to evaporation of wate, whichis more rapid in the presence of llcliol and ether, With some chemical taining, ixeaey to Bnd ont how much silver che bath contains at any tase, by Gtration methods eseibed in any elementary textbook of inorganic quantitative Analysis. Ifa aver bath falls to go grains per uid ounce in actual filvereiteate content, the negatives wil lose speed, density and sharpness of dots. In order to keep the strength up, some shops ‘make up the bath every evening to its original volume by adding a v1 Golden and the Making of Wet-Plate Negatives 15Maat of the aleobol and eth A dipping Yad, ste nthe calladion aed with alec 1 are dipped i aleoholi the bath sion appearing uneven or steaked. It presents a general ne Ina cipping bath that =ppreraice aly when the plate i being flowed with develop is being worked continooy The bath solution wil smell strongly ofaleahl. When this occu both aloha and ether acc poor the sltion into a por Tate. Ita tray bath the sh When vents evaporate out faster tha reed be tiled sway, bat ifthe bath is giving her organe impurities, it shouldbe boiled dawn than a trace ofthe, and ver allowed tocol. The resting fsed silver nitrate is disolved in ds lie alcohol led water, and thst poured into dhe quanticy required wo bing the The bath also. disses hath to ite riginal slum. [ts then tested withthe hydeometer srnall quantity of silver ide Iroueht up to strength with silver nitrate, an set inthe sun for a ew Duty alter the fist few plates, ss Aft being filtered and acidified, te bath sagain ready for ws sof course saturated with thi ‘By setting a silver bath inthe sun, all organic matter whic salt, fier the bath hasbeen in Sn a sorme time, the dio istherefore advimable to scale Silver iodide begins to precip re my n the light while the othe (eon the neatves ava fi eat Feast once a ay thn deposit, which pe ues pines, The bath is then sd to be ini” Th rigittrostes ; Leer iver iodide in solution, is gradually being used up, and the other good magatioes by wadarexpeaing, forcing developeacnt, aad ove nivate that ake its place have a weaker wolvent action onthe iodide ently be corrected by red wich erytllze out on the surface of the fazed plates. The sub The bes nezaives are aban only by caret expose, a Nee ae ae eee teak Gone oes is practically no laude in proces work, In wart dey weather « esl ij wet plate will bein to dry in from six o eight mines. The exp remit be completed before thie drying brain. Giyecrine has Ta tray bath i wed, itis to 99 maint 0 nr ime Ss non aa smd he her bah pert ry lepine Dt mt sain one-thizd water. This wil precipitate dhe exces THE DEVELOPER tit with the hydrometer, adding ver nitrate until Ferwous sulphate, sometimes called copperts, consis of light green 16 Colledion and the Making of WerPlate Negatives 7‘ryt ofthe formula FeSO, 7HLO. The dry eral a used oe tain 55% ferrous sulphate and 45% water. The developer must be mised Irs every day because dacs not keep, For this purpose itis converient to have «concentrated seck slution of ferro sl Pate scent to las several weeks. Thisshould be kept ina large hotle or earbos, and shouldbe dean off a required by means of siphon tube passing through a rubber stopper. The stopper shuld Ihave a Ye" ale bole. Use a white gla bottle, and keep tin as ih fs place'ax poanible Light reduces ferie sao ferrous salt, and tends to delay the formation ofthe ferric compounds which spoil the developer, STOCK FERROUS SULPHATE SOLUTION er Supt, Techs feat a! oo This will contain 24% by weight of ferrous sulphate crystals ane is not a saturated solution. It may be filtered as used. is specific gravity in .242 a1 60°F, which ean be checked on the Eastinan Hy Srometer, ‘The graduations on the scale end at 42, The composition ofthe developer is one of the things which 9 tilled operator varie te meet different conditions, and invihale hhave their own preferences a& to the bes formula, "The common for both ferrous sulphate crystals and glacial acetic seid lie Ihesseen 4% ane 79% by weight "The fllowing formula contains 5.7% ferrous sulphate crystal and (6.3% slacalaectic acid by weight nes Mai whtenatey rey tomate? CS quae 1 ONS eon Measure the glacial acetic acid by fel ina graduate. ‘Then diate iessith abou four times as much water, mix it with the ion make up tothe required volume with wate, aad fer This an alo be made up foe the dy al, by tang: Feowe Sapte Goats ners RGunces aa fe cal 2 Sud omces 8 ld ounce age Whe st03'F (ie) tomate Us S.quare tS gan 5 Bee The finished developer has a spel gravity of 1.046 a 60°F oF 25 ‘rains per fluid ounce on the silver lydrometer at 6a". Tn hot weather the acid may be inereased to 9% to combat fog, but 30% to 100% longer exponurer may be required. Inthe lone run, there semso belitle advantage in departures rom the fermi DEVELOPING. Hoot the plate over the snk none hand, just a itis hele for coating with colledian. Keep it level. Take the graduate of developer and place the lip against the edge ofthe plate next eo the hand that is holding it. Tip the graduate up, and asthe develope Roms ont over the plate, side the graduate along the edge over the whole width oi the plate. This is done in smooth, rapid movement, Whea done property no bubbles are formed, ad the whole plate fs covered in fraction of second. As much as posible ofthe developer is kept on the plate, ane no great exces is allowed to fun aff. This avoids ‘washing of the silver nitrate remaining onthe surface, and needed to bul up the density of the image, ‘The plate i tilted this way and that, tokeep the developer constanily in mosion during developmen. Development takes from 15 t0 30 sands, and exposure aust be adjusted s0 that correct development falls within those limit. Twenty seconds development seems to give the best negatives or photographie quality, stripping properties, et "There is no advantage in looking at negatives witha magailying ‘las during development, because if the exposite is incoreet yon ‘eannot make it ight in development After the plate has been develope, the developer mast be thor cuhly washed out of the collodion; caherwie it wll couse sain fm the negative. Wash at least a0 sceonds under good tea of water, and longer if any tendency to stn appears FIXING “Ti following solution of potassium cyanide or sium cyanide is flowed over the pte to fx the image if i te panes bed gat Se gon dos ‘apn pare othe emi Cyd acts th defo plea ag eas ees ae cate pie Men hien e e emak ‘ch ai 7 18 Collodion and the Making of Wet-Plate Negatives 191f stray ie ied, dhe plate should be immered in the solution for an interval ice as long asit takes forthe white aver fie to die ‘pear. If plates et too long in the eyaide, the fine deta will tend to be disolved ana Aller fing the image, wash the plate choroughly INTENSIFYING Tite commonest intensifier + copper bromide and silver. Fit, snake these two solutions See ol nnees hee ‘ser ome 4 somes iter When disoled mix the wo woluions and the bath i ready. The plate ix paced inthe solution unt ei leached white through to the bck. Tes then sesbed in sunning water for about one minute While under the tap, the plate should he moved to and fo, 20 thae the scan of water will noe continually strike the same spot ‘The washing must not be too prolonged or the plate will not bigcken. On the other hand, if its not washed long enough, silver ‘bromide will be precipitated by the slvernitate solution “The plate is now drained sell, and then blackened by pouting veri the follwing slution: Shei os atl “Be ounces — Soame A weaker silver solution may result in sudden and uneven reduc tom ofthe negative ata Iner stage in the process Treshly made silver solution for intenieation wil often give sireaks, However the adltion of few drops of iti ad wl sure is working smoothly ‘Sing intensified negatives work bes in the sipping operations, lutte density can be further inerased if desired, by simpy peat. ing the above seps er lead and mercury intensifies, sce page 25. REDUCING, Renucrion clears the negative by removing all silver grains benween ‘he dots or inthe fines, leaving all dence paris with a hard edge. It also redues the sie of the dots on a halftone negative, eating the shadow do faster than the highlights and mide wones Ut widens the lines on Tine negative The sual method of reduction is +0 Bleach the plac, afer in rensfcation, in the following solution: Poxusium toe “Sow om Mies bleaching, i is owed witha weak solution of eyanide “fates or Set Cand 1 emer same The cutting action it topped with runaing water the plate ex amined with maquiying glas,_and the treatment eepeated, in “Careful sep, unlit has gone just far enough When reducing fine Sereen halftones, and in the ler stages of any reduction, the bose ‘yanide sluton shouldbe cuted witha great excess of water, sy Ub to 1, inorder to maintain contol over the procs. ier the eduction i complet the plates ined, and then black ened by Homing it with the following eam Sulit. co) ‘fonces a9 game I thete i any sign ofylloe sain, i it removed by flowing with weak nitric acid solution (about 29%). Tt should be washed for three minutes to emove altace of soluble sulphide. ‘Never we thesulpidein the sami oom in which the verse ing bath locate VARNISHING Tie wet plate negative it ow complet. IF itis not tobe reversed, it shoul be coated, when dry, with Eaxtwan Engeavers Hard Var~ hy to protect the delicate mirfice Sarnishing a negative, be sine a have both varnish and nega tive fairly warm, and of even temperature. (about 100° F.) (8%), STRIPPING To reverse a wet plate negative o to transfer a number of negatives tora large picce of glass in order to make one print instead of a number of prints take the fllowsing steps Alter thorough ying, and when cool, the negative is awed with 20 Collodion and the Making of Wet-Plate Negatives azman Stripping Collodion s very eficent, forming a + flexible casting or film They apply just as much to the coating a ping eollaion on when the plate it too warm, by heating 1 1 the colladion has et or by ar bell the collet Tey to aveld these fault Be a pletely dey before you apply stripping cli ‘When the film of tripping colloion rife, and the plate i put into the followin When the film: begins to fit, remove the pate fom the bath it pocket knife, and wander ito the Position quire, tuning it oer if reversal desired stu To be quite sure that the film is not damaged or stretched in stip= ping, itmay be handled on paper. Thoroughly wet piece of thin at allsireich is taken out, and bring it int tsith the negative by means of ruber roller or 1G WITH PAPER the Bln, whi brestarted with the point ofa pocket knife. Draw the paper and off together. For reversing, the Bl feisors and th ne corner af the per and with it corner ol rir second pie of pape When the im ® fee pcces of 3” = 3 Fasiman Blotting Pape with a pice of velvet rubber.” Ifthe lave wed, keep iin water when ot in se, 0 that tl remain fe and pliable Negatives that curl at the edges ater seipping, due to being Collodion and the Making of Wet-Plate Negatives 3te made o tick down with afew drops of gu PROTECTING AND STORING NEGATIVES Nrostivs fom which many prints are to be made shoul be peo tecied. A good plan isto cover them with -oog-inch Rodale thin, transparent sheet thot can be fastened to the corners f the ieatve with Eastman Fen Cement. The Kedalod can b fasily and inexpensively in casei is damaged. 24 Colledion and the Making stripped on to cors;inch Kodaloi. This eight, unbreakable, an LEAD INTENSIFIER To get the highest posible intensification, the ray be used The plate is placed inthis bath and allowed to remsia uni th ‘uch and lowed with a weak ntre acid solution (+ part concen Ammonium sulphide may be sed in there is no abjetion o the unpleasant odor. ‘The plat ‘once more and Bowed again with d.Therealer ts lowe ce a sulphide in the same room in which che silver sensitizin the lea ferricyanide method jot described emus (MERCURY INTENSIFIER of Wet-Plote Negatives 25‘cay be hastened by warming the solution. fer thorough sash ing, the blackening i done with the following Srermysenn om it In this case aso any reduction neceary should be done before tatensiyiog VARIATION IN RESULTS. No wet-pate manual or textbook has been considered complete without a lang Hist of “defects and their causes,” Weteplate de fect are so mimerous that no complete lit has ever been made of them. The more commen ones have been given mazes, suel 2s “oyster shell,” “nunburt” “bullets” “comet” “dry eflec, rounds effet,” “eur,” et: Te is not generally admied, although i s common experience, that sraion fram nama oes ih he races, “Trouble,” so-ale, isa part of werplate work. In neany all eases troubles are external and not inherent ia the callodion. ‘They are die tthe lack of uniformity of hand opera Vion, to contamination, and to improper manipulation, ‘To appreciate the problem, each operator must be pictured as 2 ‘enesman factory, manufacturing photographic plates one ata sme, hy hand. Every me a plate is dipped, he produces a micro-batch of slvr halide emulsion, Even in.a photographic factory, where ‘anusions are made in lage bathes, in purified air maintained at an even temperature, and with laboratory-contolled materials that is under the mow favorable conditions the highest scientific skills required to get sient unlormiy “The wetepate man generally works under conditions unfavoeable to the manufacture of photographie cmulsians. Few people have any conception ofthe cleanliness necessary. In most shops such ‘leanlines is impossible without new construction. Tes common to see trade darkroome 10 dirty or otherwise unstable dh i i 2 ‘wonder hove a single usable negative could ever be made in them Consequently the making of commerciat wer-plate negatives often epens upon the dexterity, resourefulaess, avd experience of the ‘operator, under any conditions prevailing inthe trade % Collodion and the Making “THE BEST” CONDITIONS fllowing are typical questions: “What, exactly, i the eovret| acidity ofthe ath?” "What exact silver tate stengd gives the test negatives” “Te the forma i cis booklet the best develope” ‘Exactly how long shovld a colledion be pened?” "What i the correct development time” The aneer to all these question ie that x far ax known at press en, hed! conditions ean not be stated and adhered to unless the ‘askroom and gallery are maintained at exactly the same tempera- ture and huni the year ron 1 x believed hat the best roan temperature ie close to 63°F (18°C), and the best humidity abet te. Under tee cnn onl, the bese negatives are obvained with Exstinan Calloion, when te following supplementary conditions are maintained, “The Calldion i ripened for about five day, in the dark. "The plate is owed in 45 seconds. ti dipped in a 35 rain siker bath, in a uy, for three minutes. The acidic of the Silver bath has ain actual pH of 4.75 that is, nearly neatral. The Aeveloperismade up fresh, and is strength e 5 7% feros sulphate frytal ne 6% t0 7% slacial acetic acid by weight All plates are ‘deeloped for twenty seconds. seen distance of go times the ferven opening i used, with a detail op of 1/90 dhe camera ex tension. Exposice is actly right. The inside of the darkroom is washed ont every day. ‘The root is continuously supplied sith pre, Hered ae IF these condone were attained, with 2 tained man operating, iti helieved most of the uncertainty would he removed, VARIABLE I: TEMPERATURE Te wet plate process highly sensitive to temperature. Lt probe ile that, n practic, the greatest vatations fom normal quality are ‘cased by the ordinary variation in eemperature. Whe the room temperature is above 7o°F. (21°C), am increase of 2” has a definite fice. Thesefore, if itis remembered that weekly variations of 20°F (about 16°C.) are common, it will not seem surprising that the quality ofthe negatives sometimes gets out of eontol Tropera tors would accusioan themecles to working ia a room temperature ‘tot ver 68°F, (aoc) ding the winter—actualya healthy con tliion~ the trouble exused by varying temperature could be avoided far several months of the year, except ia warm dimates, Wet plates of Wet Plate Negatives 2that are being worked temperature of 75°F. G4"C a common mean in rade darkroom, are a constant source of trouble They are subject to sudden and watimely attacks of fog and ther imperfection, whieh may be very baling and may caw serious Generally the wouble wil vanish as suddenly as it appeared. On the other hand, measures eam be adopted that will tinimize i¢ at the outet, In warm roms, the eollodion and develope can be Kept a1 05°F. (18°C) by means ofa retigerator, andthe silver bath ean te reduced tothe temperature ofthe water supply (whieh, frit ance, i about 75°F. (24°C) in New York in summer), by the we fa water Jackel, The temperauuce of the water used for washing does aot matter, but in the whole proces the real remedy for high temperatures in general a lower temperature. VARIABLE Il: HUMIDITY Tweet of unity ie not known exaily, ‘The humid in work rooms varies rom 30% t full saturation, Tt affect the rate at whieh the plate dries in the camera. ‘The best humidity eat present be lieved tole between 55% and 60%, Humidity may have atin portant effect on fog and sped, VARIABLE Ill: VENTILATION Is the wetplate proces, the silver bath is especially sensive to ventilation. realy absorbs gases or vapors that cause fo. Con- Sequently,ifsuch gases are allowed to remain inthe ai ofthe dark room, fgged bath will invariably result. eis cominon experience for an operator to leave a perfectly working bath at nigh, ony to ‘comein the next morning and finda fogged bath, If the darkroom icclosed up tight a night, the bath wil usually fo in the mornin, This fogging it independent of temperature. Its believed tbe de +o abvorpion of hydrogen cyanide, bydrogen sulfide, ammonia, a ther gates If ass frequendy Ue cae, the darkroom i et open, Tt ie ventilated only with stale ae from the interior of the shop, ‘chic ie lowed at might, the ath may al fog beeae ofthe absorp Yom of gaseous impurities {i problem, in dosely built-up industrial sections ofa city, 0 obtain proper venation of wet-pate darkroom. The slver bath is more sensitive to gree than the workmen, and sometimes fogs from this cause even when the air seeme to be good. Cammon sources of trouble are eas stves, garages chemical plants, drying pint, and posibly stale ar from human respiration. tis not definitly known vehich gases ate most harmful. The proper ir to use or photographie manfacture sar from which all Stnoke, gaey and dist have been removed, and whieh is supplied ‘sta uniforms temperature nd humidity VARIABLE IV: CLEANLINESS Tne weteplate operator who wants to make good negatives mast veqjute the cleanliness of an analytical chemist oF a surgeon. Te ‘mutt not be pore to ie dust anywhere in his daskrootn, ‘There ‘must be no dtied chemical deposits in the pate-holder. Tshould be Someone's job to wipe everything with a damp clot every morning including wall, molding, lamp reflectors, tope of cabinets, and all stock bottles, benches, and shelves. ‘The aviude should not be I the dust on that self causing any wouble?"—buc rather, “That stl mas he cleaned to prevent any pastility of wouble."” There mst be no corners of the darkroom that eannot be reached with a trash cloth, Clothing shoud be kept re from das. All usable or Corredable pipes and fitngs should be kept painted or varaished, tnd in a washable conditon.* No chemicals shouldbe kept in the seet-plae wom except solutions actually usd inthe proces. ‘Ar sated before the negative glass mast be chemically clean coated with fresh albumen ast comes fom the final rinse water, and eps in dustsight cabinet which are noe wed fr storing chemicals “The operatr’s hands shosl be well ised after finishing a negative and before owing anew one. Glasware, such as graduates, must be kept clean, and should be replaced when eracked or damaged See pase 4, "Cleaning Glas” This ean be applied to totes, las trays and wher glassware. ‘The Boor should be olled with mineral Ci "No bustles should be allowed to stand sith soins in them teen not in use, unless they’ are sealed ith eorks that atualy it Chem, Seales and weights abould be kept clean and ehoeked o&ca sionally. "The walls and ceiling should be pained with a semi-oxs. was ale material, suc at Kodak Panetiomatie Green Pai. The cil~ ing should be low enough to permit its beng Kept clean witha mop, A gon pvteton pps nas provide by Kodacoat Pit 8 Collodion and the Making of Wet-Plate Negatives 29“The aie coming ino the dackroom should be clean, ax described rer Ventilation. ‘Collodion that dries on the pouring bore should be peeled of Finally, are mut be taken that dust, expecially chemical dt, sich ss hypo, isnot carved nto the darkroom om the eothing VARIABLE V: MANIPULATION ‘Mas isnot a machine, and therefore cannot do any voluntary aet exactly the same way twice in succession, When the rame manual ‘cs making up a illed erat are repeated day after day, and when {he operator works by himelf without clove supervision, the series of "ses aometnes tends to vary progresiely from the normal, a Bue ‘ore ever day, until Bnally the results are not acceptable and the fperaior is in teouble.” Foe instanee, mea with years of experience Ine teen known to forget completely the rocking ofthe plate inthe dipping bath to keep it agitated. Apart fom sic lips, ts eapos- sible for any man to cary ovt the wet-pate operations in dential the same manner every tine so that variationtin photographie qual= ity eoald not be avoided even ifll other conditions were ideal Tn sch a led r,s ees time, of course, co train men who can make a plate fice from steaks, brcawse those may be encountered in Almost any step that is not pesfecty performed. Thus, thee are ityelae streaks, substratum steaks, coating steaks, bath marks Alcohol steaks, developer szeaks, intense sueaks, rubber steaks, Ad stripping-collodion straks. ‘The remedies forall of these are Practice and cate. The operator or apprentice who takes labora: tory couse in analytical chemistry ata traning in manipulation and ceanliness wil find ie time well spent “Manipulation includes the proper cave of camera and screen Aways be sure thatthe lense clean and car. Ifa Cooke lens gets seratched, oF develops aay fil inside, it may be sent to Eastman Kodak Stores Company, 133, North Wabash Avene, Chicago, Iino, for reconditioning. Lenies of other makes should be re- turned to their respective manufacturers. Keep the screens clean, ‘lasting them frequently when in use, and wate for condensation of ‘noistare on them in the morning ifthe rooe is cold at night. Be fre at all ies that your darkroom lights are safe, that there are ‘no light leaks or internal reflections in the camera, ad that no stray Tighe serie the lens. 30 Colledion and the Making The eamera ca be tested fr ight leaks by placing an Eastman Process Platehal-covered with black paper held on by a rubber Fhand-—in the plate hokler, and leaving it in the camera for five minutes. ‘The eopy-beard light ould be on witha sheet of white Daper on the board, and the plat-holder slide should be open. Everything about the camera should be the same a daring am expo- sue, excep thatthe lens cap i let om. "The proces plate is then Aleveloped in Eastman D-ia-developer for five minutes at 65°F GHC), in Dag fortwo minster. Tany difference ean be seen between the covered and uncovered halves ofthe plate there are Teas which must be located, Cracks can be located by leking into the back ofthe camera and covering the space between the camera sod the head with «focusing cloth, thus exeluding all ight. When the eyes have become accustomed othe darks, any racks present ‘sill eeome apparent. concLusioN 1 making wetplate negatives, itis well o remember that preven tom is better than ce.” The foregoing list of specifications may Seem formidable, but there woul seldom, if ever, be any defects i the methods described in this booklet were allowed. Use Eastman Camplee Calladion, Eastman Siler Nitrate, and other Eastman supplies. They have the benefit of largeacale, rigidly conrlled production and are, without exception, tested shoroughly in the Roviak Research Laboratories snd I aur own engraving plan r being ofered tothe wade, ‘Consider yours fee to write ws whenever any question arises in connection with the procenes described inthis booklet, Our Graphic Art Department i the ceatig-house for 9 great deal a informa ‘ion valuable tall makers of wet plates apd our staf experts will te ela to lend their aid fn the solution of any problem that may conitont you. Address your corespondence to: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY Graphic Arts Drpetnert Rocustea, N.Y (of Wer-Plate Negatives 3EASTMAN MATERIALS FOR THE WET-PLATE PROCESS EASTMAN COMPLETE COLLODION Pease colldion with the proper quantity of iodizer in a xeparate Soule. Requites only the addition ofthe iodizer tobe teady for ue From the selection of the cotton for this produc, through the mixture, seing,fitering, and bottling, one purpes i held con santly in view! to provide a material of the finest photographic characterises Eastman Complete Collodion is fast. It olds it Jodides uniiormis, ows evenly, and forms a tough fm. Because of the care exercised in its manufacture, and dhe large quantities in which it is made, it will always be found reliably uniform. It i esqally good for line or halfone work EASTMAN PLAIN COLLODION [Nernareo Eastman cotten disolved in pure alcohol and ether, under conditions tha assieclaalines and uniformity. (Without adie) quart tle sos $g0 Salon ble $4.90 EASTMAN STRIPPING COLLODION. A rurxantr collodion of exceptional toughaess, which sives body to regatives that ate w be removed from their original support, for reversing, of for assembling and printing with other negatives, This stripping callodion ix manufactured under the same carefully con telled conditions that obtain in the case of other Eastman cl Todione—in a plan where even the aris kept clean to prevent con 32 Collodion and the Making EASTMAN 1ODIZER UUsto with Eastman Plain Collodion, this dizer gives a colldion that yields briiant line and halftone negatives. Ea ray be purchased to advantage as a pare of Eastman Complete Collen. (See preceding pase for description and prices) This lodizer is made to a carluly balsnoed scientiie standard, an packed in amber bottles to prevent premature ripening EASTMAN SPECIAL 1ODIZER For making thin, sof-working collation, o for thinning colladion that has become to thick. One part of Exstman Special Vines sdded to wo parts of Eastman Plain Colloion wil be fund to give an ideal sofeworkingcollodion. ee ee EASTMAN COTTON FOR MAKING COLLODION A mcavoRaps, clean, uniform cotton for making collaion, Packed in bores and moistened with soivent. This materia is taken without discrimination from the cotton used in Eastman collodions and aseman films. Because of the exacting requirement of these prod: ‘ot it isscleced and vested withthe wimon eare, Ava rena isa completely dependable material for workers who prefer to make their own collodion, EASTMAN ENGRAVERS! HARD VARNISH A cLras, quickdrying vars that forms tough lm forthe pro lection of Weeplate and dry-plate negatives, EASTMAN SILVER NITRATE Thus silver alteate is produced in great quantities from carefull selected slver bullion. Tris proces under the most exacting co ltions, breause a large percentage off is wed in Eastman high of Wet-Plate Negatives 33EASTMAN RUBBER SOLUTION Pee er, dinolved in wat EASTMAN FILTER COTTON BLOTTING PAPER Hig chemically pure stock NOT ONLY the complete list of Eastman materials for the Graphic Arts but many spe fic Graphic Ares EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYQUALITY CHEMICALS FOR QUALITY WORK N TESTED CHEMICALSCOLLODION ae THE MAKING OF WET-PLATE NEGATIVES EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, ROCHESTER, N. Y.