CAMERA NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1044, 28 December 1912, Page 4

CAMERA NOTES.

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The selection oi a paper which will give the best possible results from a certain negative is not by any means an easy matter, but is one that requires some little knowledge and experience, based on close observation and a record of results obtained from all classes of negatives with various printing processes. Negatives examined by transmitted light often give a misleading impression of their printing quality, and the curious fact is often forcibly impressed upon us that an apparently bright and sparkling negative, as it were, will produce a disappointing print, and a negative that seems hardly worthy of the time spent in developing it will prove of sovereign printing quality. Some workers aim at purposely producing negatives suited to a printing process previously decided upon. To practice this successfully requires that knowledge of competently adapting the paper to the negative. THE SELECTION OE PAPER.

P.O.P. is the paper generally used by photographers during the novice period, probably because it oiiers the advantage of being under complete control and observation during printing out, but it must be said that from one point of view there is no more unsuitable paper upon which a novice can finish his photos. —that is, that unless a good quality negative is used P.O.P. will produce a displeasing print. Prints on this paper from flat negatives usually present difficulties in toning, and the finished article is anything but a credit. Printed from a suitable negative, P.O.P. has few rivals in richness of tone and simplicity of manipulation, besides lending itself to many variations of treatment. The negative par excellence for P.O.P. is a rather thin, crisp one, a little on the hard side.

Self-toning papers are subject to much the same couditious as gold lotting paper, and it can be said that such emulsions as these will render a pleasing variety of exquisite brown tones under slightly varying treatment if a suitable negative is employed—but the resultant tone . is anything but superior ou a print from an unsuitable negative.

PAPERS FOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT

Papers of the “gaslight” variety possess a special feature which commend them to the amateur. It is assumed by paper makers that the average amateur either over-exposes or under-develops his plates, but this is a point we cannot all agree upon, as many amateurs carry development very far, erroneously thinking thereby to develop up detail which would otherwise be lost, while others place so much confidence in the speed of a plate that they inevitably under-expose. Whether it be under-exposure, under-develop-ment, or over-exposure, the one paper which will yield the best print from an almost hopelessly thin or flat negative is a very slow “gaslight." Even this paper, it must be understood, fails to work miracles, and cannot render detail which is not ou the plate. The thinner the negative the more yellow should be the light used in printing, and vice versa. With a negative of good quality, excellent prints can be obtained ou this paper by brief exposure to weak daylight or a bright artificial light. If proper care has been taken in exposure and development of the print, excellent tones can be obtained by suitable baths. This paper is made in varying speeds to suit varying densities of plates. “Gaslight" is the most convenient of all papers for the busy man, where time and conveniences are limited, BROMIDE GRADES. Bromide emulsions become favourite among the advanced workers on account of the rapidity with which prints can be made, combined with the wide range of tones to be obtained by various baths, and their comparative ease of manipulation. L,ike “gaslight," and perhaps more so, the quality of tone depends ou the treatment during printing. For successful work, negatives of good quality only can be used. OTHER VARIETIES,

There are various kiuds of paper on which space will not allow comment just now, among which is carbon, perhaps the most exquisite of all processes, and the beautiful plalinotype, but it must be recognised that all papers of reputable manufacture will give pleasing prints from suitable negatives and subjects, and must not be condemned because they will not give an attractive print when exposed under a negative technically ol very poor quality.