Page 118 - The Wellington photographic handbook

one being continually placed on top, so that each print receives
attention in turn.

JUDGING THE DEPTH OF TONING.
The progress of toning must be judged by transmitted light,
that is to say, by the appearance of the prints when held up to the
ligut and looked through. The exact depth to which they should
be toned is to be recognised without difficulty when one or two
have been made. It is most important, however, if the prints are
to be turned out in a uniform manner, that toning shall always be
done in the same light—that is to say, if daylight is generally used,
the worker will find himself all astray if he tries to tone his prints
to a similar tone by lamplight. This remark applies to all toning
processes of every kind which depend on the operator stopping them
when he judges the right stage to be reached. By incandescent
gaslight the daylight worker can judge his tones fairly well, though
still not accurately, but by lamplight or ordinary gaslight the same
tone will look entirely different.
It should be remembered in toning prints that they always
dry a good deal colder in colour than they appear when wet. They
should, therefore, be taken from the toning bath while still decidedly
red if a warm tone is desired. If a colder shade is wanted, then
toning must be stopped at the purple-red shade. Care should be
taken not to over-tone, otherwise flat, colourless prints will result.
A quantity of solution sufficient for a given number of prints
having been prepared, the whole of the prints to be toned should
be placed in the bath as quickly as possible, taking care that each
is placed well under the solution, kept moving, and that none of
the prints are allowed to cling together. The batch having been
toned the solution should be discarded and fresh used for the next
batch. If the proportion given above, i.e., 16 ounces of solution
for twenty-four half-plates, is observed there will be little waste
of gold. Strengthening up an old bath for use on a second occasion
will have the result of producing inferior prints without effecting
any economy in chemicals. Rather less than the above quantity
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