american hand book of the daguerreotype-第6部分

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s　and　eyebrows　must　not　be　touched　with　color。　　After　the　flesh　color　is　applied；　take　a　piece　of　very　soft　cotton　and　pass　it　very　gently　backwards　and　forwards　over　the　face；　so　as　to　soften　down　the　color；　and　then　apply　the　carmine　to　give　the　required　tint。　For　men；　the　darker　tints　should　predominate；　and　for　women　the　warmer。　　Very　light　hair　may　be　improved　by　a　slight　tint　of　brown；　or　yellow　and　brown；　according　to　the　color。　In　coloring　the　drapery；　the　same　care　must　be　used。　No　rules　can　be　laid　down　for　all　the　different　colors　required；　and　the　amateur　had　better　obtain　the　assistance　or　advice　of　some　one　accustomed　to　the　use　of　colors。　　A　little　white　with　a　dash　of　blue　or　a　little　silver；　will　improve　white　linen；　lace；　etc。　　The　jewelry　may　be　touched　with　gold　or　silver　from　the　shells；　moistened　with　distilled　water；　and　laid　on　with　a　fine…pointed　sable…hair　brush。

〃Brilliants　may　be　represented　by　picking　the　plate　with　the　point　of　a　pin　or　knife。〃



MISCELLANEOUS。

CHAPTER　II。


Coloring　Back　GroundsTransparent　dittoGilding　Dissolvent　Solution　for　removing　SpecksSolarized　ImpressionTo　Purify　Water　Cleaning　MercuryAdhesive　PaperBlack　Stain　for　Apparatus　Sealing　Wax　for　BottlesRougeRotten　StonePotassa　Solution　Hyposulphite　SolutionSubstitute　for　do。Gilding　Solution　Solution　for　increasing　the　Brilliancy　of　the　Daguerreotype　Bleaching　Solution；Cold　GildingNeutralizing　Agents　Buff　DryerKeeping　Buffs　in　orderCleaning　Buckskins　Reflector　for　taking　Views。

To　Color　Back…groundsTo　obtain　a　properly　colored　back　ground　is　a　matter　of　no　little　importance　to　the　Daguerreotype　operator。　I　had　nearly　exhausted　all　patience；　and　tried　the　skill　of　painters　to　obtain　a　back…ground　that　would　be　suitable　to　my　purpose；　but　all　to　no　avail。　　At　last　I　adopted　the　following　method；　and　at　a　cost　of　coloring　of　twenty…five　cents；　can　now　produce　a　back…ground　far　more　valuable　than　those　which　had　cost　five　dollars　before。

Take　common　earth　paint；　such　as　is　used　in　painting　roofs；　mix　this　with　water　to　about　the　consistency　of　cream；　then　to　four　quarts　of　this　mixture　add　about　one　pint　of　glue　water　（common　glue　dissolved　in　water；　also　about　as　thick　as　cream）。　This　last　will　cause　the　paint　to　adhere　to　the　cloth；　to　which　it　is　applied　with　a　common　white…wash　brush。　By　applying　the　brush　on　the　coating　while　it　is　wet；　it　may　be　so　blended　that　not　a　line　can　be　seen；　and　a　perfectly　smooth　color　of　any　shade　can　be　obtained。　The　shade　of　color　I　use　is　a　light　reddish…brown。　Tripoli；　rotten…stone；　or　any　earthy　matter；　may　be　applied　in　the　same　manner。

Transparent　or　Invisible　Back…ground。I　give　this　as　originally　published　in　my　System　of　Photography；　1849：

〃Take　a　large　woollen　blanket　with　long　nap；　the　longer　and　rougher　it　is　the　finer　will　be　the　effect　produced；　stretch　it　on　a　frame　of　sufficient　size；　and　suspend　the　frame　at　the　centre　of　the　upper　end　by　a　string　fastened　to　a　nail　in　the　ceiling；　from　three　to　five　feet　back　of　the　sitter。　Having　arranged　this；　fasten　another　string　to　the　side　of　the　frame；　and　while　the　operation　is　going　on　in　the　camera；　swing　the　back…ground　from　right　to　left；　continuing　this　during　the　whole　time　of　sitting；　and　you　have　a　clear　〃transparent〃　back…ground；　which　throws　the　image　out　in　bold　relief；　and　renders　the　surface　of　the　plate　invisible。　If　equalled　at　all　it　is　only　by　atmospheric　back…ground。　I　consider　it　to　be　the　best　ever　known；　and　think　it　needs　but　to　be　tried　to　afford　satisfactory　proof　that　it　is　so。　Although　used　by　few　before；　since　the　first　edition　of　this　work　at　least　two　thirds　of　the　operators　have　adopted　its　use；　for　any　one　can　at　once　understand　the　principle　and　the　effect　which　it　produces。〃

It　may　be　added　that　a　motion　imparted　to　to　any　back…ground　where　softness　is　desired；　produces　an　excellent　effect。

Gilding　Dissolvent。To　one　quart　of　muriatic　acid　add　as　much　oxide　of　iron　（common　iron　rust）　as　it　will　dissolve　in　two　days。　This　may　be　done　by　putting　in　the　oxide　in　excess。　It　should　be　frequently　shook；　and　when　wanted　for　bottling　it　should　be　allowed　to　stand　in　order　to　settle。　　When　this　is　done　the　solution　may　be　poured　off；　and　reduced　by　adding　to　it　an　equal　quantity　of　water；　then　it　is　ready　for　use。　This　constitutes　a　gilding　dissolvent　now　in　our　market。

Solution　for　Removing　Specks。There　is　probably　no　one　cause　of　complaint　so　general　as　〃what　makes　those　black　specks？〃　There　are　several　causes　which　produce　them；　and　probably　the　most　general　are　dust；　rouge；　or　a　spray　of　moisture　on　the　plate。　It　this　be　the　case；　there　is　no　solution　which　can　remove　them；　as　they　have　prevented　a　chemical　action　with　the　silver；　and　their　removal　would　only　expose　the　surface　of　the　plate　which　in　itself　would　afford　a　contrast　with　the　impression。　Another　and　less　dangerous　source　of　these　specks　is　organic　matter　contained　in　the　solution　employed　in　dissolving　the　chemicals；　or　the　water　in　washing。　　much　of　the　hyposulphite　of　soda　in　market　contains　a　sulphuret；　which；　coming　in　contact　with　the　silver　surface；　immediately　causes　oxidation。　Such　spots；　as　well　also　as　most　all　others　found　on　the　plate　after　it　has　been　exposed　in　the　camera；　can　be　removed　by　the　following；　solution：　　To　one　ounce　of　water　add　a　piece　of　cyanide　of　potassium　the　size　of　a　pea；　filter　the　solution　and　apply　by　pouring　it　on　the　surface　of　the　plate。　In　all　cases　the　plate　should　first　be　wet　with　water。　Apply　a　gentle　heat；　and　soon　the　spots　disappear；　leaving　the　impression　clear　and　free　from　all　organic　matter。

In　the　absence　of　cyanide　of　potassium；　a　solution　of　pure　hyposulphite　of　soda　will　answer　as　a　fair　substitute。

To　Redeem；　a　Solarized　Impression。The　Daguerreotype　plate；　prepared　in　the　ordinary　manner；　should　be　exposed　in　the　camera　a　sufficient　time　to　solarize　the　impression。　　Then；　before　it　be　exposed　to　the　vapor　of　mercury；　expose　it　for　a　very　brief　period　to　the　vapor　of　either　chlorine；　bromine　or　iodine。　Then　expose　over　mercury；　as　usual。　　I　have　produced　singularly　interesting　results　by　this　process。

To　Purify　Water。Filter　the　water　well；　and　then　add　about　three　drops　of　nitric　acid　to　the　pint。　　This　can　be　used　as　absolutely　pure　water；　but　I　would　recommend　the　use　of　distilled　water　as　preferable。

Cleaning　Mercury。Make　a　small　bag　of　chamois　skin；　pour　in　the　mercury；　and　squeeze　it　through　the　leather。　Repeat　this　several　times；　and　filter　by　means　of　a　funnel　made　of　paper；　with　a　very　small　aperture；　through　which　it　will　escape　and　leave　the　particles　of　dust；　or　other　substances；　in　the　paper。　A　paper　with　a　pinhole　through　it　will　answer　as　well；　and　it　is　less　difficult　to　make。

Adhesive　Paper。Take　gum　arabic；　four　ounces；　put　it　in　a　wide…mouthed　bottle　and　pour　on　water　about　one…third　above　the　gum。　　Add　half　ounce　of　isinglass；　or　fish　glue；　and　a　small　piece　of　loaf　sugar。　　Let　all　dissolve；　and　spread　over　French　letter　paper；　with　a　brush　or　piece　of　sponge。　If　once　spreading　is　not　enough；　perform　the　same　operation　a　second　time。

Black　Stain　for　Apparatus。Dissolve　gum　shellac　in　alcohol；　or　procure　shellac　varnish　at　the　druggists'；　stir　in　lampblack；　and　apply　with　a　sponge　or　bit　of　rag。　　This　will　adhere　to　metal；　as　well　as　wood；　and　is　used　for　the　inside　of　camera；　tubes；　etc。

Sealing　Wax　for　Bottles。Melt　together　six　parts　rosin　and　one　beeswax；　and　add　a　small　quantity　of　lampblack；　or；　if　red　is　preferable；　add　red　lead。　　Common　white　wax　is　best；　as　most　chemicals　act　less　upon　it。

When　bottles　containing　bromine　are　to　be　sealed；　it　is　well　to　grease　the　stopper。　　This；　however；　only　when　the　bottle　is　in　frequent　use；　for　if　it　were　to　be　sent　by　any　conveyance　it　would　be　likely　to　fly　out。

Rouge。The　method　employed　by　Lord　Ross　is　probably　unsurpassed　in　the　production　of　rouge。　　He　has　given　his　process　as　follows：

〃I　prepare　the　peroxide　of　iron　by　precipitation　with　water　of　ammonia；　from　a　pure　dilute　solution　of　sulphate　of　iron；　the　precipitate　is　washed；　pressed　in　a　screw　press　till　nearly　dry；　and　exposed　to　a　heat　which　in　the　dark　appears　a　dull；　low　red。　The　only　points　of　importance　are；　that　the　sulphate　of　iron　should　be　pure；　that　the　water　of　ammonia　should　be　decidedly　in　excess；　and　that　the　heat　should　not　exceed　that　I　have　described。　The　color　will　be　a　bright　crimson　inclining　to　yellow。　I　have　tried　both　potash　and　soda；　pure；　instead　of　water　of　ammonia；　but　after　washing　with　some　degree　of　care；　a　trace　of　the　alkali　still　remained；　and　the　peroxide　was　of　an　ochrey　color；　till　overheated；　and　did　not　polish　properly。〃

Care　should　be　observed　to　apply　rouge　in　a　dry　state　to　the　surface　of　the　plate。

I　would　remark；　that　so　far　as　my　experience　has　gone；　I　consider　good　rouge　fully　equal　to　any　other　polishing；　material　for　the　last　or　finishing　polishing；　consequently　I　shall　not　take　up　my　space　in　enumerating　any　of　the　great　variety　that　find　few　advocates。

Why　Rouge　is　to　be　preferred。〃Because　it　burnishes　better；　and　because　it　assists　in　fixing　the　layer　of　gold；　rendering　it　less　susceptible　of　being　removed　in　scales　when　heated　too　much。〃

Rotten　Stone。〃Purchase　the　best　ground　rotten　stone　of　the　druggist；　put　a　few　ounces　at　a　time　in　a　wedgewood　or　porcelain　mortar；　with　plenty　of　clean　rain　water。　This　should　have　about　forty　drops　of　nitric　acid　to　the　quart。　Grind　well；　and　after　letting　the　mortar　stand　two　minutes；　pour　into　a　third。　　After　remaining　undisturbed　eight　minutes；　finally　pour　off　into　a　fourth　to　settle。　　Rinse　back　the　sediment　in　the　second　and　third；　and　grind　over　with　a　new　batch。　Repeat　the　operation　till　you　have　all　in　the　fourth　vessel。　Let　this　stand　several　hours；　and　pour　off　the　water　very　carefully。　Set　the　deposit　in　the　sun；　or　by　a　stove　to　dry。　When　perfectly　dry；　pulverize；　and　it　is　ready　for　use。　With　a　little　trouble　you　will　obtain　in　this　way　a　much　better　article　than　can　generally　be　bought　of　dealers。　For　the　last　washing；　alcohol；　or　a　mixture　of　alcohol　and　water；　is　preferable。〃

Potassa　Solution。The　use　of　a　solution　of　potassa　in　the　preparation　of　the　plate　was　suggested　in　the　early　history　of　the　Daguerreoty