USING METER IN DARK INTERIORS.
In the majority of interiors, however, the meter may be used by remembering that the first distinguishable effect on the paper takes place in approximately one sixteenth of the whole time. It is then merely necessary to place the meter in the position in which detail is required, in the shadow portion, and to note thel time of darkening to the first distinguish able tint. The exposure will then be six teen times the time occupied in reaching the first tint. The plate and meter may be exposed simultaneously with a view to laving time. In the case of an extremely dark interior the meter may even be ex posed near the source of illumination, as a very rough guide which, coupled with experience, will form a useful aid, but exposing in the position of the half-tones gives a better clue.
DEvELoPmENT.
Much depends upon the careful and patient development of an interior nega tive. It should be constantly borne in mind that the contrasts are excessive, and that every endeavour must be made to get the most out of the shadows, while, at the same time, keeping the well-lighted portions of the plate back. The problem is not an easy one to solve, and the best plan is to deal with the matter ten tatively, determining to spend time and exercise patience over an operation which in most cases is bound to he protracted.
Of course, in the case of a well-lighted grey building, it is possible to develop in the ordinary manner, employing the solu tions at their usual strength. But with a difficult interior one can hardly be too careful. Take, for example, a standard pyro-socla developer, which is known by experience to work well with the plates to be used. Let this same developer be employed for a difficult interior, but halve the amount of soda and increase the amount of water six times. Flood this over the plate, and if nothing appears at the end of five minutes add a little mixed developer of the normal strength. An attempt should be made to get all details out with the weakest possible solu tion, and then just at the last—it may be after twenty or thirty minutes—if the plate is lacking in density, the stronger solution is used for a few final seconds. It is advisable always to stop development before the high lights are clogged. This will probably mean that the shadow por tions are very thin. If such is the case, the negative should be backed with papier mineral, cutting this away from behind the dense portions.