When, however, the plate has been dried and allowed to stand for any time, before gilding, the hyposulphite wash should be applied as at first, in order to destroy any chemical coating that may have been formed on exposure of the plate to the air.

For gilding the larger plates, we have a gilding stand so constructed that the plate can be put on a perfect level.

In practice, I prefer holding the plate with nippers, fastened at one corner.

Hold the plate in the same manner as in removing the coating; pour on the gilding, newly filtered, until the surface is wholly covered, and with the blaze of the spirit lamp, at least three inches high, apply it to the back of the plate, moving it about, that the surface may be heated with as much uniformity as possible.

Continuing this operation, the surface will generally become covered with small yellow bubbles which soon disappear, leaving the image clear and distinct.
It is advisable to make use of a lamp having a sufficiently strong flame to produce the effect in a few minutes.