A Manual of the Collodion Photographic Process - Fixing the Image


Contents

Part 1

Part 2

PART III


Fixing the Image

Fifth division—When the development has continued a sufficient time, and the picture has acquired its full perfection and depth of tone, it is slightly washed with water, and a small quantity of a strong solution of hypo-sulphite | of soda is poured on from a cup kept for this purpose. The hypo-sulphite must be poured off and on for several times in succession, giving the plate a little motion to facilitate the liquid penetrating the film. It will very soon begin to dissolve out the undecomposed iodide of silver, removing as it were a kind of veil from the pic- ture which previously concealed its details.

Hypo-sulphite of soda may not be at hand; should this be the case, a weak solution of iodide of potassium can be used to effect the fixing of the image and removal of the iodide of silver.


A saturated solution of common salt will bes found also to fix the drawing, although it will not dissolve out the iodide of silver, and may be useful when the two preceding salts are not at hand.


When the action of the fixing agent has been continued long enough, which is indicated by the entire removal of the milky appearance of the film, the drawing is well washed in water, or water is poured over it, if the surface is suffi- ciently strong to bear this mode.


A careful washing is necessary, for not a trace of hypo-sulphite should be left on the film, as its presence would cause an obliteration of the image after a short time. When properly washed, it is dried at the ordinary temperature, and can afterwards be varnished and, mounted, as the taste and means of the operator may suggest.

In working this process, too much care cannot be taken to protect the surface of collodion, after immersion in the nitrate of silver bath, from the action of diffused daylight or the too near application of the light of a candle or lamp. For it is, when first removed from the bath, susceptible of very weak impressions, and very many of the failures and disappointments of beginners, there is no doubt, arise from this cause. A certain disagreeable haze will appear all over the drawing, quite different from the marks and streaks produced from the use of dirty or imperfectly cleaned glass.


The above description includes the whole of the process as originally published by me in the "The Chemist.”


Although the details of each division may appear tedious and unnecessary, and perhaps are so to many, still, as guides for those who are for the first time entering upon the practice of Photography, they will rather be thought wanting in minuteness than otherwise.