HOME-MADE DEVICES FOR RAPID PRINTING.
The amateur working on a small scale will find it sufficient to set up an ordinary with a central recessed opening to take the negative. Behind this travels a long strip of bromide paper, covered by a board, which may be moved along past the opening as much or as little as required, according to the size of the negative. A gas jet, oil, or electric lamp at one end of a board or box, as in Fig. 321. If gas or electric light is employed, it is a good plan to fix the light in a clamp. as shown, since scale and pointer are provided on the board to ensure correct register. The apparatus may be used for rollable film also, and in either case the sensitive material can he developed in one piece. Another machine, recently placed on the market, is shown in Fig, 319. Fig. 320 shows a convenient plan for printing large it may then be placed at any height, according to the size of the negative, thus ensuring an equal distribution of the light. This board should be marked off with i scale, and at certain distances, say 12 in., 18 in., and 2-1 in., from the gas jet, a wooden strip may be fastened across. sc that the exact distance may be easily found in the dim light. For working on a larger scale, the apparatus shown in Fig. 322 may he used. This consists of a wooden box A, screwed firmly in the centre of a steady table, within which is an To each of these four frames is hinged a printing frame r—ordinary frames may he used—the back of which does not fasten in with the usual springs, but is hinged in the same way as a camera focussing screen to the bottom, and folds over the S c.p. electric lamp B . (A paraffin lamp or
gas jet might be used if a suitable top were provided.) The box measures 3 ft.
paper, being held firm by a brass spring at top. In this way four printers may work at the same light, and produce a large number of prints in an incredibly short space of time. The light remains the same throughout, being toned clown I square, so that either side is 18 in. from t the lamp. It has four windows, e, each of which is provided with a frame i grooved I to take a shutter E of canary fabric.
if too bright by several thicknesses of tissue paper placed over the front of the flame. The exposure is made by drawing the canary shutter. If the first named apparatus is used, the lamp should be provided, if possible, with a by-pass, to avoid constant relighting, and there should be another lamp in the room. A yellow light is preferable to a red one for work ing in, as regards development, since the contrasts and tone of the picture can be better judged. There should be plenty of light in the dark-room. If of the proper colour it is surprising how much may be used. Breakages will thus be avoided. For cliches, the wooden ones with glass bottoms are cheap and seem to answer well, but it is advisable to have the glass fairly thick at bottom or they are very liable to breakage. The common window glass put into them usually is altogether insufficient.