Tintype loses detail as it dries?

[helenore]

I recently decided to try my hand at making tintypes again. My first plate looked absolutely incredible as I pulled it from the fixer bath. But as it dried, certain areas of it began to lose detail and take on a strange reflective appearance. What might be causing this? I made sure to fix for the correct amount of time, and likewise gave it a long healthy rinse. I've attached a photo of the plate in the fixer bath, as well as a scan of it after it dried to show the difference

 

[removedacct1]

Its simply overexposed. A plate that looks right in the fixer is going to dry far too light. Tintypes dry brighter by about 1.5 stops, so you should evaluate plates accordingly. Also, once varnished, they dry a bit darker again, so once you varnish it, you'll find a lot of that detail is revealed again. But I think you'll still find its overexposed.

 

[koraks]

Its simply overexposed.

Agree. And possibly insufficiently fixed as well.

 

[helenore]

Also, once varnished, they dry a bit darker again, so once you varnish it, you'll find a lot of that detail is revealed again.

Yes! You were absolutely right, I varnished it this morning and a lot of life returned to it :^) Glad to know the issue was exposure, one of the easier things to solve