WARNING

Frederick Scott Archer's 1854 manual is provided principally because of its historical interest.

Archer first publication was in 1851, and I don't want to appear to be attempting to diminish his credit in anyway. He deserves all the credit in the world for his genius in discovering the wet collodion process, and his selfless generosity in giving it free to the world.

All of the classic manuals contain methods and and formulae that are potentially dangerous. If you would like to use one of the classic manuals then try Carey Lea's. It was published, for the first time, in 1867, and in the 16 years following Archer's article in The Chemist the wet collodion process had become pretty well refined.

 

 

A NUMBER OF THE CHEMICALS RECOMMENDED BY ARCHER, AND OTHER EARLY PHOTOGRAPHERS, ARE VERY DANGEROUS.

PARTICULARLY BI-CHLORIDE OF MERCURY AND POTASSIUM CYANIDE

 

If you are seriously interested in trying the Wet Collodion Process the best way of learning is from an experienced practioner of the art. A number of these give tuition in courses and privately.

Click on Workshops for details.

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