Photographic materials

Wet collodion photographs and daguerreotypes. Among photographic materials, the first priority is to dry wet collodion photographs and daguerreotypes. The recovery rate may be low.

• Case photographs. Remove the assembly from the case. Carefully fold back the preserver frame, cut the sealing tape (if present) and take the assembly apart. Place daguerreotypes face up on blotters with the case components beside them. Wet collodion photographs should be dried in a similar way, emulsion side up.

• Wet collodion glass negatives and unmounted case photographs. Dry emulsion side up on blotters.

Prints, negatives, and transparencies. In order of preference, the drying methods for these materials are air drying freezing, thawing, and air drying; and freeze-drying. Vacuum drying is more likely than these methods to make the photographs stick together. Follow these procedures, as time and facilities permit:

• Black and white prints and negatives. Wash for half an hour in changes of cold water. Gently swab off stubborn dirt from the surface. Rinse with Kodak Photo Flo solution.

• Color prints. Wash as above, but for a shorter time.

• Color negatives and transparencies. Wash as above. A few varieties require bathing in a stabilizer before drying.

• Color negatives. Rinse for one minute using Kodak C41 stabilizer.

• Ektachrome transparencies. Rinse 10 to 15 seconds in Kodak E6 stabilizer.

• Kodachrome. No stabilizer required.

• Eastman color film. Send to a Kodak laboratory.

When air drying photographs, remember to keep them wet until they are separated from one another and their enclosures. If the photographs have been frozen, thaw them. If it appears that the photographs could dry and stick together during thawing, immerse them in cold water again. Dry the photographs emulsion side up on blotters, paper, or a nylon screen, or pegged by the corner to a fishing line.

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