A Manual Of Photography

86 HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY. produce a most decided effect. The action of light on tins pre- paration does, indeed, appear to be instantaneous. On several occasions I have procured, in less than a second, distinct out- lines of the objects to which the camera has been pointed, and even secured representations of slowly moving bodies. With this great increase of sensitiveness, we of course secure greater sharpness of outline, and more minute detail. It should be understood that the process is a negative one, from which posi- tive pictures may be procured on the ordinary photographic paper by transfer. To prepare this very sensitive paper we proceed as follows:— Select the most perfect sheets of well-glazed satin post, quite free from specks of any kind. Placing the sheet carefully on some hard body, wash it over on one side by means of a very soft camel's hair pencil, with a solution of sixty grains of the bromide of potassium, in two fluid ounces of distilled water, and then dry it quickly by the fire. Being dry, it is again to be washed over wit li the same solution, and dried as before. Now, a solution of nitrate of silver, one hundred and twenty grains to the fluid ounce of distilled water, is to be applied over the same surface, and the paper quickly dried in the dark. In this state the papers may be kept for use. When they are required, the above solution of silver is to be plentifully applied, and the paper placed wet in the camera, the greatest care being taken that no day-light, not even the faintest gleam, falls upon it, until the moment when we are prepared, by removing the screen, to per- mit the light, radiated from the objects we wish to copy, to act in producing the picture. After a few seconds, the light must be again shut off, and the camera removed into a dark room. It will be found, on taking the paper from the box, that there is but a very slight outline, if any, as yet visible. Place it aside, in perfect darkness, until quite dry, then fix it in a mercurial vapour box, and apply a very gentle heat to the bottom. The moment the mercury vaporizes, the picture will begin to develope itself. The spirit lamp must now be removed for a short time, and when the action of the mercury appears to cease, it is to be very carefully applied again, until a well-defined picture is visible. The vaporization must now be suddenly stopped, and the photograph removed from the box. The drawing will then be very beautiful and distinct ; but much detail is still clouded, for the development of which it is only necessary to place it cau- tiously in the dark, and allow it to remain undisturbed for some hours. There is now an inexpressible charm about the picture, equalling the delicate beauty of the daguerreotypes ; but being still very susceptible of change, it must be viewed by the light