387. Removing High-Light On Under Lip

Removing High-Light On Under Lip. Owing to the shape of the average lip, the outer edge being white, the subject must be properly handled when the negative is made or this member will reproduce very light when contrasted with the red or inner portion of the lip; unless reduced by etching, or otherwise, this would give an exaggerated appearance to the lip. The shaving must be carefully done, and it is advisable, of course, to work the longest way of the high-light; therefore, the stroke of the knife must not, under any circumstance, be apparent in the print, for the grain of the lip runs in the opposite direction from which you are working. Should there be any danger of the stroke of the etcher showing, then it will be necessary for you to work across the high-light. This will not be at all necessary, however, if your knife is properly sharpened.

388. Removing High-Light On Shadow Side Of Mouth

Removing High-Light On Shadow Side Of Mouth. As a rule, there is a slight prominence on thin faces at or near the corner of the mouth, which catches the light and throws a deep shadow onto the cheek. This is a false light and must be removed. In the lower left-hand figure of Illustration No. 15, this defect is shown. The figure on the right of the same subject shows this same high-light, which has not been removed by the etcher, but the. shadow has been blended up to the high-light by means of the pencil. This gives a swollen appearance to the face and is decidedly displeasing. In Illustration No. 19 this high-light is prop-

erly removed by etching. You will observe that the highlight is only slightly reduced, thus requiring only the faintest shaving with the etcher, and for this purpose, or, in fact, in any case where the blending or reducing required is but slight, the knife must be very sharp - it must not scratch, but shave smoothly.

389. Removing High-Lights On Moles, Etc

Removing High-Lights On Moles, Etc. Moles and other prominences (which in the majority of cases should be removed) almost always have a strong highlight on the tip. This high-light must first be removed with the etcher. It would be impossible to blend up to it with the pencil, for you would distort the face in doing so. After the high-light is removed, and if the mole is quite dark, you can build up the dark portions even with their surroundings, using the regular H lead; if the mole is very dark a BB or very soft pencil will produce the best results.

390. When etching small spots, should you happen, for any reason, to scrape over onto the surrounding tint and reduce that also, a stroke or two of the pencil on the portion which has been unintentionally reduced will build it up to its original tone. The parts which are etched will usually require some penciling afterward, to build up the surface even with the surrounding tones; it is always advisable, therefore, when retouching negatives generally, to do your etching first; then, by doping the plate, the entire surface is prepared to receive the pencil.

391. Shaping Noses

Shaping Noses. There are many noses which may be falsely lighted, according to their shape. For instance, a pug nose or a nose on which the bridge is not at all pronounced, but is somewhat hollow and flat; the light as it falls upon it exaggerates its breadth to the extreme. The sides of this high-light should be shaved down with the etcher, so as to give the nose its proper width. Noses which are somewhat long, and, when illuminated with a low source of light have the high-light on the extreme tip, may be shortened in appearance by etching away the lower portion of this high-light. There are other cases -

for example where the nose is not perfectly straight - when by removing a portion of the high-light on the side of the nose toward which it curves, and by penciling a new highlight on the opposite side, the nose will be straightened. There are, however, extreme cases which may require etching on the side of the nose and then building up in other parts with the pencil.

392. Aside from these instances there are many other uses for the etching knife in modeling the nose. Almost every negative will require some little alteration of the highlight, in order to perfectly model this feature. Each case will be readily apparent as it presents itself, and by judicious use of the knife and pencil wonderful improvements can be made.

393. Of course you should always make proofs of your negatives before attempting to do any etching, and whenever in doubt as to the progress you are making print another proof, making it sufficiently dark to show clearly just what work you have accomplished.

394. If the blade of your etcher scratches in place of shaves, your knife has not been properly sharpened, or you are not holding it correctly. The edge of the knife must by no means scratch the film, for if it does you will experience difficulty and will not be able to secure proper results.