Page 139 - The Wellington photographic handbook

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formulae have been suggested from time to time, and all succeed
more or less in their purpose, although some produce better results
than others with different types of bromide prints.
A good all-round bleacher can be made from the following
:—
formula
Copper sulphate 80 grains 5 grammes
Sulphuric acid ... ... ... 5 minims 5 drops
Potassium bromide ... ... 80 grains 5 grammes
Potassium bichromate 7 grains 0-4 gramme
Chrome alum ... 16 „
Water to 20 ounces 500 c.c.
The print most suitable from which to make a successful
bromoil is one that in the ordinary way would be accepted as a
" good " bromide print. Although it is quite possible to make
bromoils from almost any type of bromide print, even from the
thin, flat, over-exposed variety, there is no doubt that for ease in
working and for the highest percentage of successful results a
bromide print that is pretty good in itself, possessing good half-
tones, clear high-lights and fairly dark shadows, is very desirable.
It is well, therefore, when setting out to make a print that is to be
converted into a bromoil, to bear this point in mind, and give,
where possible, the correct exposure and full development.
It may possibly be asked "If you have a good bromide
:
"
print, why turn it into a bromoil at all ? The answer is that
there are very few bromide prints produced, be they never so good
technically, that will not bear " pulling together " and strengthen-
ing in various ways to make entirely successful as pictorial com-
positions. There are spotty high-lights to be toned down, scattered
masses to be brought together by other connecting masses, shadows
to be made stronger, tone or modelling to be added to blank white
spaces, etc. All this can be done legitimately by the bromoil
process without in any way interfering with the outline and drawing
given by the lens and plate.
PREPARING THE PRINT FOR PIGMENTING.
When the bleacher has been freshly made up according to
the above formula, the print, which has been thoroughly well fixed,
* Before making up any formula, read the notes on pages 1 26 and
1 25, 1 34.
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