Collodion Basics Part 8: Varnishing the Plate

This is the ninth of ten videos in a series meant to demonstrate the basics of wet plate photography. Following all the way through should teach you everything you need to outfit yourself and start making your first tintype photos. In this video I cover the end of the collodion process, finishing your plate off with a coat of varnish. Varnishing your plate will protect it from damage and tarnishing over time, as well as adding an attractive glossy finish. This is as far as you'll need to go in the series to start making your first plates, the one remaining video will just cover basic silver bath maintenance.