When the negative and paper are in the frame the whole is placed out-of-doors to print, and here we may say a few words about the best light to print in. After wards will be found described special cases in winch it is best to print in a particularly strong or a particularly weak light, but for the majority of cases it is safe to say that the brightest diffused light (that is, light other than direct sunshine) which can be had is the best light to print in. The light which can be had on the window sill or balcony on the north side of a house is excellent, or in fact any place where shade can be had ; but if no place can be found except such as where the sun shines on, the diffi culty can be entirely got over by placing white tissue paper over the frames.
The time which a frame must remain in the light be fore the print is completed varies enormously ; but as it is always possible to examine the print and ascertain how far the process has gone, this need not trouble the photo grapher. The time varies of course with the light, but also very greatly with the nature of the negative. Those which show great contrast and are fogged in the shadows require a very long time for printing. Those which are
not very dense and are quite transparent in the shadows yield prints very quickly.
The shortest time in which we can reasonably expect a print from a good negative with the brightest diffused light is ten minutes, and many negatives will be found which require one or two hours, or even more.
After the exposure has gone on for a few minutes the frame may be taken into a room where the light is moder ate, and one-half of the back of the frame being opened, the progress may be examined. The print must be made considerably darker than it will eventually be required, for the reason that the after processes somewhat reduce it. The precise amount of depth of tone which is re quired will soon be ascertained by practice. Those parts which it is intended shall be eventually white should appear slightly coloured when printing is complete. If the negative be of the proper density the deepest shadows will by this time have turned as dark as the paper is capable of becoming.
The prints when they are finished are placed in a drawer or in any other place where they will be kept from the light, and when the desired number is done, they are kept for toning.