DISHES.
The larger the number of dishes avail able, the more readily and conveniently can the work be carried out. The dimen sions will depend on the size of the plates generally used, and the extent to which toning, enlarging, and similar operations beforehand. The best way to do this is to place a rapid plate in a dark-slide, draw one half of the shutter, and expose the plate to the light of the lamp, in the place usually occupied by the developing dish. Let it remain for a quarter of an hour, or a little longer. The plate should then be immersed in the developer, in the usual mariner ; and if there is any discoloration on the exposed portion, the lamp must be condemned as unsafe for plates of that rapidity. In such a case, the fault may generally be remedied by the addition of a thickness of orange or ruby fabric in front of the ruby glass. It must also he remembered that what is a perfectly safe light for one brand of plates may be unsafe for another. The unwind of light has nothing to do with the question. A large quantity of light may be used with perfect safety, provided it is of the right quality.
are undertaken. It will be more satis factory to consider, at present, only those dishes which are used in developing, leav ing the other kinds to be dealt with later.
Something has already been said (see p. 17) about developing dishes, several patterns being illustrated on p. 16. These, how ever, by no means exhaust the numerous patterns which may be obtained. Figs. 375, 376, and 377 show three other kinds of dishes, each of which has its own special feature. Fig. :375, for instance, contains a recessed rebate, the size of the plate to be used, so that the surface of the film forms the actual bottom of the dish. This results in the plate being covered with more than the usual quantity of de veloper, and in less waste taking place. It is, in fact, possible to use a smaller quantity of solution, although this is not generally to be recommended. A large dish of ebonite is best for fixing purposes, the position for this being under the bench or on the floor, as there is then no chance of the hypo. being splashed about. It is a good plan to mark each dish according to the use to which it is to be put, as, for