ADVANCED MANIPULATIONS
Bleaching the Transparency

Bleaching the transparency of an image will allow you to either lighten areas for color correction or to remove areas of an image on the transparency for either further transparency or for use in a collage.

What you will need:

• The transparency from a Polaroid
• Latex or polyurethane gloves
• Surgical mask
• Bleach mixture (1 part household bleach to 4 parts water)
• Tap water
• A fiberboard
• Clips or masking tape
• Cotton balls or swabs
• Watercolor paintbrush, size 02 to 0000
• A mild detergent, such as dish soap, mixed with water (a few drops of soap in a small container of water.)

Bleaching to Lighten:

Before you begin, put the gloves and surgical mask on.

1. Prepare one mixture of bleach and have a rinse wash available.
2. Attach the transparency, negative side up, to the fiberboard
3. Using a watercolor paintbrush, apply the bleach to the transparency by touching the brush to the chemistry very gently starting in the biggest area you wish to lighten first. Repeat as necessary.

Troubleshooting:

The chemistry is coming off on the brush.
You're either stroking the chemistry while applying the bleach or your brush is holding too much bleach mixture. Make sure that you do not push/pull the brush when applying the bleach mixture; instead you should touch the brush to the chemistry and lift the brush off. Also, make sure that you remove excess bleach mixture from the brush before applying it to the chemistry.

Bleaching to Remove Areas of the Image:

Before you begin, put the gloves and surgical mask on.

1. Prepare the bleach mixture and have a rinse wash available.
2. Attach the transparency, negative side up, to the fiberboard
3. Using a watercolor paintbrush, apply the bleach to the transparency starting in the biggest area you wish to remove first.
4. Using a cotton ball or swab, wipe the chemistry off transparency. You will need to use several balls or swabs depending on the size of the area(s). Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary.
5. Once the chemistry has been removed, slowly apply the bleach to an area of detail with a watercolor paintbrush.
6. Rinse the brush and use it to lift the chemistry off in slow controlled movements.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 as necessary rinsing the brush often.
8. Change the rinse water and clean the brush.
9. Apply the mild detergent mixture to the transparent areas with the watercolor paintbrush and wipe the water off with a cotton ball or swab until the remaining chemistry and bleach residue is removed and there is no visible fogging on the transparency.

Troubleshooting:

There are white streaks on the transparency.
Not all the chemistry or bleach residue was removed. Repeat steps 8-9.

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