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Alternative Photographic Processes - (Hand made photographic -emulsions and processes)

Processes - daguerreotype process

Daguerre Daguerre was a scene painter at the Paris Diorama. He experimented with capturing a permanent image from the mid 1830s onwards. Initially he had difficulty in persuading others of the commercial merits of his process. However, an announcement of his daguerreotype process was made on 7 January 1839. This was an image on a silver-plated highly-polished plate. The image emerged when the plate was immersing the plate in mercury vapour. Early experiments with the Daguerreotype process took much longer to produce the image, using only the light of the sun. Was the use of mercury vapour to speed up this process perhaps discovered accidentally? The About Photography web site gives brief details about Daguerre and his Daguerreotype process. Professional Photographers The Daguerreotype process required expertise. It was used almost exclusively by professional photographers. Photography was, in practice, restricted to that class of society that could afford the high prices charged for daguerreotypes. Process The daguerreotype process required the use of mercury vapour, which led to a high mortality rate amongst the early practitioners. The Daguerreotype process as described by Daguerre in his pamphlet, The Daguerreotype, and in later pamphlets. The process consists of five steps: 1. Clean and polish the plate. 2. Coat the plate with a film of iodine 2. Expose to iodine fumes to create silver iodide. 3. Expose the plate in the camera 4. Bring out the picture. This is done by Exposing the plate to mercury vapour in a Mercury Box to bring out the image. This causes a layer of mercury vapour to be deposited on the areas of the metal plate that have been exposed to light. 5. Fix the image. Sometimes, the image is also gold toned. 1. Clean and Polish the Plate - Take a well-prepared plate without blemishes - Fix the plate by cement to a smaller wooden block - Hold the wooden block in the left hand, and dust lamp-black over the plate. - Rub over the surface of the plate with a velvet buff. 2. Coat the Plate - Take a box made of glass or porcelain, with a well-fitting glass lid. - Pour a solution of iodine into the box. - Attach the plate to the underside of the lid and put the lid on the box. - Allow the plate to be coated with iodine until it turns a golden yellow colour. Inspect with a candle [Too short and it will remain pail and not be sensitive. Too long and it will turn violet and cannot be used.] 3. Expose the Plate - Place the plate in the camera taking care to protect from light. - Expose the plate. 10 to 60 seconds exposure is usually required. © A Compound Iodine and Bromine Box 4. Bring out the Picture - Support the plate at an angle of 45% in the upper portion of a box. Mercury Box © This box is coated hard black varnish on the inside. The upper portion of the box has a lid and glass front to allow inspection. The glass is covered by a sliding door or curtain to keep out the light. The lower portion of this box has a small porcelain or sheet metal cup to hold mercury, and a thermometer to measure the temperature of the mercury. The box is supported on legs above a spirit lamp. - Light the spirit lamp © to apply heat to the cup containing the mercury. Heat to 140 degrees F (never more than 170) then remove the lamp. - Observe the picture through the glass, and when the temperature has fallen to 113 degrees F, remove the plate from the box. 5. Fix the Image - Support the plate at an angle of 45% in a flat porcelain dish. - Pour cold distilled water over the plate. - Wash with a weak solution of hypo-sulphite of soda. - Tone the Plate (if desired) by placing the plate on a brass stand THEN covering with a solution of chloride of gold THEN applying heat with a spirit lamp THEN pouring off any surplus liquid. - Wash with warm water. - The plate is now ready to be mounted, to be preserved from dust and damp. [Source: Photogenic Manipulation, published in 1843. Chemicals for the Daguerreotype Process Below is a list of chemicals for the Daguerreotype process, taken from the catalogue of Bland & Long published in 1856. Please click on the list below for further details. © Please click here to see Complete sets of Daguerreotype equipment Result © A daguerreotype photograph is a faint negative image, but with good detail, on the copper plate. The appearance changes with the angle of viewing and can look positive from some angles, and can barely be seen at all from other angles. The image is reversed, left to right, so clothing appears to be buttoned wrong way round. Daguerreotypes were normally mounted behind glass in small hinged cases with velvet lining.

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1/1_early_photography_-_processes.htm

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