377. There are times when portions of the face contain strong high-lights and undue prominences, which, if left in the negative, will give a very displeasing appearance. If you attempt to build up to them with the pencil, the face would acquire a puffed or distorted appearance, and the likeness would be destroyed to a greater or less extent. Then, again, there are defective outlines, such as angular jaw-bones, contrasting strongly with a dark background. Again, the head may be turned sufficiently to just show an ear, either on the high-light side of the face or even on the shadow side. In either case the light on the ear, may be so strong that it attracts undue attention to this feature. It would be advisable, under such circumstances, to subdue the light on the ear by means of the reducing paste; or, if the subject has been given a slight side view and only a portion of the objectionable ear is shown, then it would be far better to remove the ear altogether than to leave it. In such cases it will be necessary to employ the etching knife to remove the objectionable feature.

378. There are also cases where it becomes necessary to etch hair onto a partially bald head, or to shape eyebrows which may not be so formed as to give a pleasing curve.

379. After diligent practice, as instructed in Lesson XIV, and by applying the work cautiously, you will find no particular difficulty in overcoming these defects, and in

shaping up the face and properly removing any of the ob-jectionable features above mentioned.

380. Removing Objectionable Portions Of Ears

Removing Objectionable Portions Of Ears. Before attempting to work on the negative make a strong proof-print, in order that you may have a positive guide to go by. Having the etching knife perfectly sharp, you proceed first with the highest point of light on the ear, gradually shaving the film, reducing the whole of the ear until you have the tone of this portion so that it matches the tone of the background. With this done make another proof-print, and if the proof shows you have not carried the etching quite far enough, go over the space again, shaving the film to the proper depth. Judgment must be exercised in removing portions of an ear, so that you do not remove parts which should remain.

381. When making negatives of subjects with extremely large ears, the subject may be posed in a low key of light to avoid exposing both ears prominently, and, by turning the face slightly from the source of light, the ear on the shadow side may be removed entirely. In a front view of such a subject, if the whole ear were removed the portrait would be disfigured. When the negatives are made under a strong light, and the ears are abnormally large, the high-lights on the ear may be reduced with reducing paste, after which a portion of the ear may be cut away.

382. Be very careful that your etching knife does not scratch the negative. The blade must simply shave off the film. If it scratches, the work will be sure to show in the finished print.