Camera Work: A Photographic Quarterly (1904 (Heft 8))

CARBON AND GUM PRINTS ON JAPAN TISSUE.
ABOUT TWO years ago the writer became interested in making
some carbon prints, using Japan tissue as the final support.
The results were not pleasing, as the gelatine used in
making the support-paper destroyed the texture of the Japan
tissue, besides causing unequal shrinking in the final print.
Last April experiments in this line were resumed, result-
ing in the entire elimination of the former difficulties.
Assuming that the reader is familiar with the single-transfer process,
directions are given herewith for making single carbon transfer-prints on
Japan tissue with ease and certainty.
The Japan tissue is placed on a glass support, the paper being cut some-
what larger than the glass, when it is coated with a plain collodion made
up as follows:
Alcohol, sp.gr. 0.81. . . . . . 1000. c.c.
Ether, sp. gr. 0.72. . . . . . 1000. c.c.
Pyroxyline. . . . . . . . . .30 grammes.
Old celluloid films can be dissolved in amylacetate, or equal parts of
alcohol and ether, and used for the same purpose.
With a camel's-hair brush, about one inch in width, commence at
one edge of the paper on the glass support, and as rapidly as possible,
using the collodion freely, coat the whole of the paper, at the same time
pressing it into contact with the glass as intimately as the brush will
permit.
This first coating should thoroughly dry, when it will be found that the
paper will be drawn perfectly flat to the glass support, if the coating has
been properly done.
Two or three additional coats should be applied until the pores of the
paper are closed, but not enough collodion used to give the Japan tissue
support too much gloss and destroy the texture of the paper.
After the paper on the glass is dry, bend back the surplus paper over
the edge on to the back of the glass support, and hold it there by placing it
on another glass, keeping the two together during the development of the
carbon print. This will prevent the water from getting between the print
and the glass, and lessen the possibility of tearing the print.
Sensitize the carbon tissue and print as usual. When ready to squeegee
the printed tissue to the prepared Japan tissue support, immerse the print
and the tissue support in the water at the same time and squeegee as usual.
No previous soaking of the tissue support is necessary. In twenty minutes
development can proceed as usual. The print during development should
be examined with some white opaque substance behind it or it will probably
dry out too dark.
The finely divided coloring matter can be thoroughly removed from
the print, when sufficiently developed, by flooding with alcohol once, in the
same manner in which a plate is flowed with developer.

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