This is just speculation, Fred, but I think that the "mirror image" aspect of
the daguerrotype is partially attributable to the light reflecting off the
mercury/silver amalgam in an amount proportional to the original exposure.
Were the image to be developed in a conventional chemical developer, you would
have a black, non-reflective deposit which mightn't have the same effect.
Joe Arkins
NY, NY
"Fred P. Arnold" wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Chemical question: The basic dageurrotype process involves making silver
> halides on a silver plate, exposing, and then developing with fumes of
> mercury, which presumably makes mercury-silver amalgam, fixing, and then
> toning.
>
> Why couldn't a standard developer, such as Metol or Pyro, be used instead?
> Does it attack the plate, not develop a sufficiently strong image, or is
> it just a method that was never employed before daguerrotypes fell from
> favor?
>
> -Fred
>
> "No science has ever made Frederick P. Arnold, Jr.
> more rapid progress in a A&HPRC, U. of Chicago
> shorter time than Chemistry." 5640 S. Ellis Ave
> -Martin Heinrich Kloproth, 1791 Chicago, IL 60637
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