What is the main ingredient in the solution used to coat albumenized paper?
- Silver nitrate
- Ammonium chloride
- Egg whites
- Sodium hyposulphite
Correct Answer: Egg whites
Correct Answer Explanation: Egg whites are the primary ingredient in the albumen solution used to coat paper for silver printing. Albumenized paper provides a smooth surface for printing and helps fix the silver image.
Why is it important to filter the albumen solution before coating the paper?
- To remove impurities that can cause blemishes in the print
- To make the solution easier to apply
- To ensure the solution is the correct consistency
- To prevent the paper from absorbing too much solution
Correct Answer: To remove impurities that can cause blemishes in the print
Correct Answer Explanation: Filtering the albumen solution removes any impurities that could cause blemishes or unevenness in the final print. A smooth and clean albumen layer is essential for a high-quality silver print.
What is the purpose of the sensitizing bath in silver printing?
- To make the paper sensitive to light
- To fix the image after printing
- To tone the print
- To wash away excess chemicals
Correct Answer: To make the paper sensitive to light
Correct Answer Explanation: The sensitizing bath, typically a silver nitrate solution, makes the albumenized paper sensitive to light. This allows the light to create a latent image on the paper during printing.
How does the presence of nitric acid in the sensitizing bath affect the print quality?
- It makes the print more resistant to fading
- It produces warmer tones in the print
- It can lead to dull and red tones in the print
- It has no effect on the print quality
Correct Answer: It can lead to dull and red tones in the print
Correct Answer Explanation: Nitric acid in the sensitizing bath can damage the albumen, leading to dull and red tones in the final print. It is important to ensure the sensitizing bath is free from nitric acid to maintain optimal print quality.
What is the purpose of fuming sensitized paper with ammonia?
- To prevent the paper from fading
- To neutralize the chlorine released during printing
- To enhance the detail in the print
- To make the paper more sensitive to light
Correct Answer: To neutralize the chlorine released during printing
Correct Answer Explanation: Fuming sensitized paper with ammonia helps neutralize the chlorine released during the printing process. This prevents the chlorine from reacting with the albumen and causing blemishes like “measles” (minute spots of discoloration).
How does the strength of the toning bath affect the final color tone of the print?
- A strong bath produces warmer tones
- A strong bath produces blue or feeble tones
- A strong bath has no effect on the color tone
- A strong bath makes the print more resistant to fading
Correct Answer: A strong bath produces blue or feeble tones
Correct Answer Explanation: The strength of the toning bath, often a gold chloride solution, influences the color of the final print. A strong bath or long immersion can lead to a blue or feeble tone, while a weaker bath or shorter immersion results in warmer tones.
What is the purpose of the fixing bath in silver printing?
- To make the image permanent
- To tone the print
- To remove the sensitizing solution
- To prevent the paper from fading
Correct Answer: To make the image permanent
Correct Answer Explanation: The fixing bath, typically a sodium hyposulphite solution, removes unexposed silver salts from the print. This stabilizes the image, making it permanent and preventing further darkening from light exposure.
Why is it important to thoroughly wash the print after fixing?
- To remove any remaining chemicals
- To prevent the print from fading
- To make the print more resistant to water damage
- To ensure the print dries evenly
Correct Answer: To remove any remaining chemicals
Correct Answer Explanation: Thorough washing after fixing is crucial to remove any remaining hyposulphite residues. These residues can cause yellowing of the whites of prints over time and damage the longevity of the image.
What is the purpose of vignetting in silver printing?
- To enhance the detail in the print
- To create a gradual transition from the image to the background
- To make the image more dramatic
- To focus attention on a specific area of the image
Correct Answer: To create a gradual transition from the image to the background
Correct Answer Explanation: Vignetting is a technique used in printing to create a gradual transition from a fully printed image to a blank background. It often emphasizes the subject and can create a more pleasing and balanced composition, especially in portraits.
What is combination printing?
- Printing multiple negatives onto a single sheet of paper
- Printing a negative with a special technique to enhance details
- Printing a negative in a special solution to create a specific color tone
- Printing a negative on paper that has been specially treated
Correct Answer: Printing multiple negatives onto a single sheet of paper
Correct Answer Explanation: Combination printing involves printing images from multiple negatives onto a single sheet of paper. This allows photographers to create complex compositions, such as landscapes with figures or multiple exposures for special effects.
What is encaustic paste?
- A wax-based paste used to enhance the richness and detail of prints
- A solution used to fix the image after printing
- A solution used to tone the print
- A solution used to clean the print
Correct Answer: A wax-based paste used to enhance the richness and detail of prints
Correct Answer Explanation: Encaustic paste is a wax-based paste used to enhance the depth, richness, and transparency of prints, particularly in the shadows. It also helps protect the surface and contribute to long-term preservation.
What is enamelling in silver printing?
- A process of coating a print with a thin layer of enamel collodion
- A technique used to create a textured surface on the print
- A technique used to retouch the print
- A technique used to mount the print
Correct Answer: A process of coating a print with a thin layer of enamel collodion
Correct Answer Explanation: Enamelling involves coating a print with a thin layer of enamel collodion, which provides a glossy finish and can enhance the appearance of the image. It can be applied to both wet and dry prints.
What are cameo prints?
- Prints that are embossed to create a raised, cameo-like effect
- Prints that are toned with a gold chloride solution
- Prints that are printed on a special type of paper
- Prints that are mounted on a thick cardboard backing
Correct Answer: Prints that are embossed to create a raised, cameo-like effect
Correct Answer Explanation: Cameo prints were popular in the past, but they are now considered outdated due to their raised, easily-scratched surface. The process involved embossing a print using a special apparatus, creating a raised effect.
How can you compensate for a weak negative during printing?
- Use a weaker sensitizing bath and print in diffused light
- Use a stronger sensitizing bath and print in diffused light
- Use a weaker sensitizing bath and print in direct sunlight
- Use a stronger sensitizing bath and print in direct sunlight
Correct Answer: Use a stronger sensitizing bath and print in diffused light
Correct Answer Explanation: A weak negative requires a stronger sensitizing bath to compensate for the lack of density in the image. It should also be printed in diffused light to prevent overexposure.
What is the purpose of retouching a negative?
- To correct flaws or enhance features in the negative before printing
- To make the print more resistant to fading
- To create a specific color tone in the print
- To enhance the detail in the print
Correct Answer: To correct flaws or enhance features in the negative before printing
Correct Answer Explanation: Retouching a negative involves correcting flaws or enhancing features in the negative before printing. This can involve removing blemishes, smoothing out skin tones, or adding details to improve the composition and aesthetic appeal of the final print.
What is a good way to create atmospheric effects in landscape photographs using the silver printing process?
- Use a darkroom filter
- Use a special lens
- Layer tissue paper on the back of the negative
- Use a strong toning bath
Correct Answer: Layer tissue paper on the back of the negative
Correct Answer Explanation: Layering tissue paper on the back of the negative can create atmospheric effects in landscape photographs. By strategically masking certain areas, the printer can soften the details in the distance, mimicking the effects of haze and atmospheric perspective.
How can you recover silver from waste solutions and paper in the silver printing process?
- Collect silver chloride, silver sulphide, and silver nitrate residues
- Use a special chemical to dissolve the silver
- Burn the paper and collect the ashes
- Dispose of the waste in a special container
Correct Answer: Collect silver chloride, silver sulphide, and silver nitrate residues
Correct Answer Explanation: A significant amount of silver can be recovered from waste solutions and paper through careful processing. This includes collecting silver chloride, silver sulphide, and silver nitrate residues, which can then be refined to extract the silver.
Approximately how many ounces of egg whites are needed to make 20 ounces of albumen solution?
- 5 ounces
- 10 ounces
- 18 ounces
- 25 ounces
Correct Answer: 18 ounces
Correct Answer Explanation: About 18 ounces of egg whites are needed to make 20 ounces of albumen solution. This ensures the solution has the correct consistency and provides a strong coating for the albumenized paper.
How much silver nitrate is needed to make a 50-grain silver nitrate solution for sensitizing, for 2 pints of solution?
- 50 grains
- 100 grains
- 2,000 grains
- 5,000 grains
Correct Answer: 2,000 grains
Correct Answer Explanation: A 50-grain silver nitrate solution for sensitizing requires 2,000 grains of silver nitrate for 2 pints of solution. This calculates to 1,000 grains per pint.
What is the relationship between the chloride content in albumenized paper and the strength of the sensitizing bath?
- Higher chloride content requires a weaker bath
- Higher chloride content requires a stronger bath
- There is no relationship between chloride content and bath strength
- The relationship depends on the type of albumenized paper
Correct Answer: Higher chloride content requires a stronger bath
Correct Answer Explanation: A higher chloride content in albumenized paper requires a stronger silver nitrate bath to ensure proper coagulation and prevent the albumen from dissolving. The stronger bath helps to bind the silver chloride to the paper and create a stable image.
About how much sensitizing solution does each sheet of albumenized paper absorb?
- 1/4 ounce
- 1/3 ounce
- 1/2 ounce
- 1 ounce
Correct Answer: 1/3 ounce
Correct Answer Explanation: Each sheet of albumenized paper absorbs about 1/3 ounce of sensitizing solution. This depends on the size and thickness of the paper, but it’s a good general guideline.
How many cabinet prints can you cut from a whole sheet of albumenized paper, with minimal waste?
- 5
- 10
- 15
- 20
Correct Answer: 15
Correct Answer Explanation: Fifteen cabinet prints can be cut from a whole sheet of albumenized paper, with minimal waste. This depends on the size of the paper, but this number is typical for a standard sheet.
How long does it typically take for a 50-grain silver nitrate solution to sensitize a sheet of albumenized paper?
- 1 minute
- 3 minutes
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes
Correct Answer: 3 minutes
Correct Answer Explanation: A 50-grain silver nitrate solution will take about three minutes to sensitize a sheet of albumenized paper. The time can vary depending on the temperature and the thickness of the paper, but three minutes is a reasonable estimate.
What is the typical measurement of a 1-inch head portrait for a carte-de-visite from the top of the head to the chin?
- 1 inch
- 1 1/4 inches
- 1 1/2 inches
- 2 inches
Correct Answer: 1 1/4 inches
Correct Answer Explanation: A 1-inch head portrait for a carte-de-visite should measure about 1 1/4 inches from the top of the head to the chin. This is a standard measurement for this type of portrait, which was popular in the 19th century.
What is the ideal gradation in a good vignette for a carte-size portrait from black to perfect white?
- 1 inch
- 1/2 inch
- 1/4 inch
- 1/8 inch
Correct Answer: 1/2 inch
Correct Answer Explanation: A good vignette should have a gradation from black to perfect white within a limit of half an inch for a carte-size portrait. This gradual transition helps create a pleasing and balanced effect in the image.
How much solid sodium hyposulphite is typically needed to safely fix three sheets of albumenized paper?
- 1/4 ounce
- 1/2 ounce
- 1 ounce
- 2 ounces
Correct Answer: 1 ounce
Correct Answer Explanation: One ounce of solid sodium hyposulphite can safely fix three sheets of albumenized paper. This is a good guideline for using the fixing bath, but the exact amount may vary depending on the size and thickness of the paper.
How long should a print on medium-sized paper typically be soaked in the fixing bath?
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 20 minutes
Correct Answer: 10 minutes
Correct Answer Explanation: A print on medium-sized paper typically requires ten minutes of soaking in the fixing bath, while thick-size paper needs fifteen minutes. This allows the hyposulphite solution to fully react with the unexposed silver salts and stabilize the image.
What is the key ingredient in encaustic paste that helps enhance prints?
- White wax
- Gum elemi
- Benzole
- Oil of spike
Correct Answer: White wax
Correct Answer Explanation: A carefully prepared encaustic paste can enhance the depth, richness, and transparency of prints, particularly in the shadows. It also helps protect the surface and contribute to long-term preservation. White wax is the primary ingredient in this paste.
How many drops of saturated cyanide of potassium solution per pint of water should be used to reduce the density of over-printed proofs?
- 1 drop
- 2 drops
- 4 drops
- 8 drops
Correct Answer: 4 drops
Correct Answer Explanation: A weak solution of cyanide of potassium (four drops of saturated solution per pint of water) can be used to reduce the density of over-printed proofs. This solution helps to chemically lighten the overexposed areas of the print and create a more balanced image.
What percentage of silver can be recovered from waste solutions and paper through careful processing?
- 10-25%
- 25-50%
- 50-75%
- 75-100%
Correct Answer: 50-75%
Correct Answer Explanation: It is possible to recover 50 to 75 percent of the silver used in photography through careful waste management and processing. This involves collecting silver chloride, silver sulphide, and silver nitrate residues and refining them to extract the silver.
What type of negative requires a weaker sensitizing bath and should be printed in sunlight?
- A very hard negative
- A weak negative
- A medium negative
- A soft negative
Correct Answer: A very hard negative
Correct Answer Explanation: A negative that is very hard requires a weaker sensitizing bath (30 grains of silver nitrate per ounce of water) and should be printed in sunlight to compensate for its high contrast and density.
What type of negative requires a stronger sensitizing bath and should be printed in diffused light?
- A very hard negative
- A weak negative
- A medium negative
- A soft negative
Correct Answer: A weak negative
Correct Answer Explanation: A weak negative requires a stronger sensitizing bath (80 grains of silver nitrate per ounce of water) and should be printed in diffused light to compensate for its lack of density and contrast.