Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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To Make the Paper Sensitive

Having prepared the silver solution as above directed, take the paper by opposite corners, smooth side down if plain paper, glazed side if albumenized; lower one corner on to the solution, and steadily lower the rest to the surface of the solution, so that the air is completely driven out, and the entire surface exposed to the action of the silver. Be very careful that the solution does not get on the back of the paper. Plain paper (papier saxe) should float 2 minutes; albumenized, 3 minutes. Carefully raise the sheet from the solution, and hang up to dry in a perfectly dark room. It is best to proceed with the 3136. To Prepare a Picture for Toning and Fixing. It will now be necessary to tone and fix the picture, in order that the image be rendered permanent. The first process is to soak the print in a dish of clear water for a few minutes, and thus wash off the free nitrate of silver remaining upon the surface of the paper. A half hour's soaking, with one or two changes of the water, will effect this so that it is ready for the toning bath. printing as soon as the paper is dry. Addi- 3137. To Prepare a Toning Bath. tional brilliancy and sensitiveness is imparted Chloride of gold is sold in bottles containing to the paper by exposing it, after it is thor- 15 grains. Dissolve this in 30 drachms of oughly dry, to the fumes of ammonia. This water, add a drop of hydrochloric acid, and may be done by hanging it up with a clip or preserve it as a stock solution in a bottle; pin in a close box, in which is a small dish mark this gold solution. Make in another containing aqua ammonia F.F.F. This fum- bottle a saturated solution of washing soda, ing process may be dispensed with, yet the prints are much more uniform when treated with the ammonia.