ADVANTAGES OF THE BROMIDE PROCESS.
Of the advantages of the process, none possibly exceed that of rapidity of produc tion, and this alone would have made it a popular one. It is possih'e to make a finished print by this process, exclusive of retouching, in about half an hour ; which rapidity cannot be equalled by any other process. In this way, large quantities of prints may be turned out from a single negative ; and now that there are several machines upon the market for rapid print ing, the process is worked very exten sively. Control of contrast is another advantage of the process, although this is a point upon which photographers dis agree. There can be no doubt, however, that in skilful hands the contrasts of a picture may be influenced considerably by the use of proper developer and modifi cation of exposure. Most processes allow of some modifications, and such have al ready been referred to ; but the bromide process allows the greatest latitude, in this respect, of any silver process. Fewness of
operations is an advantage that commends itself to the rapidly working professional • as well as to the amateur ; the picture de veloping up a pleasing slate black without the use of a toning bath. Less liability to stain may also be claimed for the process, without apparently much harm resulting. True, it is quite possible to pro duce severe staining by working in the wrong way or with certain developers, but there are none of those unaccountable stains and markings which so frequently crop up with other silver processes, even when worked on a large scale ; some of which are doubtless due to faults in manu facture, but many to local conditions, such as water supply, etc. Moreover, the paper will bear considerable handling, without apparently much effect. On the whole, then, the paper may be said to be much less liable to disturbance from out side influences than those prepared with the chloride.