PRINTING.
You are now ready for exposure and the printing frame should be filled. Place the sensitized side of the sheet of Velox against the film side of the negative, the paper curls slightly, the sensitive side being concave. An absolute test is to bite the corner of the sheet, the sensitive side will adhere to the teeth.
Place the printing frame the corredt distance from the artificial light used, holding the frame away from the burner a distance equal to the diagonal of the negative. To prove that the light is evenly diffused at the point selected for exposure, take a piece of white cardboard, the size of the negative, and move its position with reference to the light until you find the shortest distance at which an even illumination is secured. A few seconds exposure will be required when printing an average negative on Special Velox. Regular Velox needs from four to five times as much exposure as Special, if in using both grades the printing frame is held at the same distance from the light. We suggest that before making the first exposure the cutting of a piece of Velox paper into strips about an inch wide and placing one of them over an important part of the negative, make the exposure, using your best judgment as to the distance from the light and the time of printing. Develop it, and if not satisfactory try another strip, varying the time as indicated by the first result. When the desired effect is secured, you can make any number of prints from the same nega tive, and if the time of exposure, distance from light as well as the time of developing are identical, all the prints should be equally good. By com paring your other negatives with the one you have tested, you will be able to make a fairly accurate estimate of exposure required by any negative.
After taking the exposed piece of paper from the printing frame, in a safe place previously selected, it is ready for development. The dry print should be immersed face up in the developer (Tray No. f) and quickly and evenly covered with the solution. Regular Velox should be developed not to exceed fifteen seconds Special about twice as long. No exact time can be given as the strength of developer used would make a difference in the time. With our prepared liquid developers, the addition of Bromide of Potassium is unnecessary, the correct proportion being in the solution. As soon as the image has reached the desired depth remove from the developer to the tray (No. 2) and rinse for a moment, turning the print several times, then place it in the acid fixing bath (Tray No. 3), keeping the print moving for a few seconds, the same as was done when rinsing, so as to give even and thorough fixing, preventing stains and other troubles. See page 99 for note regarding fixing bath for Royal Velox. Leave the print in this solution until thoroughly fixed ; this will take about fifteen minutes. When fixed, remove from the fixing bath and wash thoroughly for about an hour in running water, then dry. After drying, prints may be trimmed and mounted.
You should be systematic in working, remembering that cleanliness is essential in photography. Care must be taken to prevent the Hypo in any way getting into the tray containing the developer. Have a clean towel when beginning the work and wipe your hands each time after you have handled prints in Hypo solution.