MODERN PICTURE-MAKING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3701, 8 October 1927, Page 3

MODERN PICTURE-MAKING.

A PROGRESSIVE LOCAL BUSINESS.

Yesterday we accepted an invitation from Mr. I. Corn to visit his new developing and printing department, and gleaned some interesting information on the finishing of photographic pictures. “From the time the photographer ‘snaps’ the shutter on his camera and seals the film roll, his responsibility ceases, and ours commences,” said Mr. Corn. “On commencing business in Foxton,” continued Mr. Corn, “I noticed that many films were being sent to other towns for finishing, with the result that not only was this money lost to Foxton, but great inconvenience was caused to customers by having to wait three, and sometimes four days for their prints. As there was a small compartment attached to my optical room, I decided to fit this as a darkroom. Although it was small, I considered it big enough to cope with the business expected. “So popular, however, became our “One Day Service” during last summer (our first season), it was only with difficulty we could cope with the woi-k in a small darkroom. Realising that with our ‘Quick Snap Service’ and excellent results we have practically ousted outside competition, and that the coming seas’on will without doubt be a heavy one, steps had to be taken to provide still more rapid facilities, hence our new darkroom.”

“How do you handle films in development?” we asked. “Films,” said Mr. Corn, “used to be developed by hand, but this proved so inefficient and unscientific that deep tank development has succeeded that method. The latest process, as adopted by us, requires three deep porcelain tanks, each holding ten gallons of chemical solution. Development of films is “factorial,” that is to say, the strength and temperature of the developer is ascertained, and this determines the length of time the films are immersed in the developing solution. The films are placed in the tanks, suspended from rods, no handling being required. Upon the completion of development, the films are transferred to the next tank, containing the acid wash solution, which \immediately arrests further development. From the acid wash, the films are placed in the third tank, which contains the acid fixing bath, which in addition to fixing the image,* also hardens the emulsion. Films treated in this manner last indefinitely if taken care of. After fixation is complete, the films are washed in an automatic washer, which keeps them continually on the move, so as to ensure even washing. An important part of our system is a specially built drying oven, which evaporates the moisture quickly, irrespective of weather conditions.

“Printing, of course,” continued Mr. Corn, “is, most important, as the print is the finished product. To obtain the very best results from the varying qualities of negatived resulting from amateur “snapping,” suitable grades of paper are used, and so there are very few negatives from which we cannot get a good print. To further expedite the finished article, and make our ‘Same Day Service’ possible, we have a semi-automatic printing machine, through which the negatives pass in a strip, not cut. Illumination is secured by means of a 150 c.p. filament electric lamp, which automatically provides white light while printing, and red light when reloading with sensitive paper. After exposure for printing, the paper is developed similarly to the films (excepting that the chemical solutions differ in strength), thoroughly washed, and, while wet, pressed into close contact; face downwards, with highly polished ferrotype plates. These plates are then placed in the drying oven. It is this treatment which gives our prints their beautiful glossy appearance. Each print is then trimmed and is ready for despatch.” '“How many films could you handle in a day?” we asked.

“Hundreds,” was the reply, “as 60 can be done at one time.”

“In handling so many films at a time, are not errors made in the sorting?” “This very seldom happens, as, with our system, each film or negative brought in is recorded. Each is given a number and mark,.and this is also placed on each print. “During the coming season,” continued Mr .Corn, “tfe intend making a specialty of enlarging from amateurs’ negatives. This is a branch of photography which will prove a great convenience, as customers will be able to have their favourite ‘snaps’ enlarged at small cost, and so give to them an added value. Our enlarging is done by a Kodak ‘Auto-focas’ enlarger, which, as its name implies, can,, by an automatic, focusing arrangement, enlarge to any size required. “I should like to take this opportunity,” added Mr. Corn, “of thanking the residents of Foxton and district for their valued snpport, which has enabled this new venture to succeed and become permanent. By providing facilities for the quick handling of our customers’ requirements we have found our efforts appreciated. In providing these greater facilities we will be able to give a wider and even better service, which we know will also be fully appreciated.” Mr. Corn’s methods and equipment certainly struck us as marking a very wide departure from the old photographic methods we remember in our youth, known popularly as “the plate and pyro days.”