Page 143 - The Wellington photographic handbook

We suggest that the three brushes obtained by the beginner
should be an inch, half an inch, and a quarter of an inch in diameter
across the end. If you can afford it, buy a bigger one still, as the
big brushes are more easy to work and produce a finer finish when
broad masses are being dealt with.
In addition to the ink and brushes, a little medium will be
necessary. This can be ordinary oil painters' megilp or, as some
bromoil workers prefer, litho varnish, which must be used very
sparingly. In most cases, however, the ink is supplied in tubes
of the right consistency for immediate use
; that is, it is a little
stiffer than ordinary artists' oil colour. If it is too stiff owing to
its being slightly dried up, a little meglip should be added to soften
it. The litho varnish has a tendency to make the pigment work
more stiffly.
A flat piece of glass or opal is required for use as a palette.
An old glass negative makes an excellent palette after the film
has been cleaned off. If this piece of clear glass is placed on a
sheet of white paper, it enables the appearance of the ink to be
judged better. These items, together with the pigmenting pad
made of wet blotting paper, as described above, are practically
all the accessories necessary for the production of the finished
bromoil print.
PIGMENTING THE PRINT.

To start pigmenting, squeeze a little of the pigment from the
tube on to the palette. We will assume that you are using black.
Also on another corner of the palette deposit a little spot of megilp.
Now observe the surface of the bleached print which is lying on
the pad. This should have no obvious traces of water upon its
surface, as any splashes or beads of moisture which may be left
there will prevent the application of the pigment at that spot, and
should be carefully blotted off. The surface of the print, when
viewed at an angle, should show a very good indication of the
picture, the high-lights being shiny and the shadows dull, repre-
senting those portions of the film which have absorbed water in
greater or less degree, as described previously. The parts that
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