Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

October 4th, 1933 PFF1CIENCY ^ in the DARK The AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER p 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER a ROOM Throughout the coming months the dark-room will play an important part in the activities of amateur photographers. In the following article suggestions are given for ensuring that the work done in the dark-room will be conducted with the greatest efficiency. TO obtain the utmost satis¬ faction from ensuing results, it is necessary for the dark¬ room to facilitate the efficient opera¬ tion of all the processes concerned. In the case of wooden sheds and outhouses, steps must be taken to see that summer heat has not caused cracks or leaky patches in the roof, whilst cellars and other indoor apartments used as dark-rooms should undergo a thorough “ autumn ” cleaning before the com¬ mencement of practical operations. Bottles and Solutions. All stale solutions, etc., left over from previous seasons should be poured away as useless. Solutions of doubtful potentiality may lead to a waste of time and good materials, hence it is important to dispose of these at once. Bottles and other receptacles may be thoroughly cleaned in readiness for further use when the new solu¬ tions are made up. The time is now opportune, however, to sub¬ stitute more efficient bottles for any amongst the old equipment that have been found at all clumsy or inconvenient. It is dangerous, too, to have developer and hypo solu¬ tions stored in bottles that are practically indistinguishable one from the other. Bleachers and toners should be retained in smaller bottles, whilst reducers and intensifiers are usually found to work better when made up only immediately before they are required for use. All solids and concentrated solu¬ tions should be kept well stoppered in their original bottles ; and it is a good plan to seal all bottles, that are likely to remain for some time undisturbed, with a little melted paraffin-wax. Acids and acid solu¬ tions should be kept in bottles with rubber corks. Fittings. A little time should also be de¬ voted to overhauling the bench, cupboards and other fittings. If these can be improved at no great inconvenience to the worker, the necessary alterations should be car¬ ried out without further delay. Several dark-rooms lacking an ade¬ quate water supply are still being used, and this is a defect which should certainly be remedied whereever facilities exist for the disposal of ultimate waste. It should be seen that every article in the dark-room occupies a position most suitable and convenient for smooth working. The developing bench should, for example, be easily screenable from the safelight, and quite close to the sink, whilst enlargers and the printing table should be adjacent to this, but even more remote from the light. The safelight itself should also be tested for “ safeness.” At other points there should be a loading bench and a trimming desk ; but always the aim should be to keep the centre of each opera¬ tion distinct and as well separated as possible from confusing contact with other centres. Some Working Tips and Hints. When making pyro-soda developer in two-solution form, great care should be taken to see that the graduate is well washed out after preparing the pyro solution. If the same vessel is used for making both solutions and a trace of pyro gets into the soda solution it will stain it and perhaps lower its quality. If you have to be rather economical with wash water through having to carry it for some dis¬ tance a better plan is to prepare the soda (No. 2) solution first, as a trace of soda in the pyro (No. 1) solution does not stain the mixture. When adding bromide to developer in the form of drops, let it drip into an empty graduate, and not direct into the prepared developer. Should the stopper be loosened too much, and more than required is released, the surplus can be returned to the stock bottle and not spoil the developer by slowing it down, per¬ haps altering development times. If in the habit of taking a plate from the fixing bath and holding it up to the dark-room light, care should be taken to see that hypo does not drip from it into the developer, desensitiser, or even on to the work-bench. A trace of it can do irreparable damage to many plates. When making up amidol solutions for bromide paper developers do so in a corner of the room free from air currents, and see that none is spilled. The fine crystals of amidol may float in the air and settle on prints or negatives, causing spots. Beware stains on prints when mak¬ ing prints with the aid of a coloured safelight. If any occur they will not be visible in such a light. If stains are suspected examine a print by white light. “Fog” in the Dark-room. After fastening yourself in the dark-room let your eyes become accustomed to the darkness before uncovering plates, or you may find, on turning round, that light is streaming in through several places which were not visible a few minutes before ; from behind the window moulding, the edges of the door, and even down the chimney. Finally, lock the dark-room door, especially when working during day¬ light hours. You may be handling the best negative you have ever made when the door is thrust open from outside, and the plate is promptly fogged. 306 7