Dye Imbibition Magnification
The three subtractive color dyes were transferred from the gelatin matrix film and evenly absorbed into the mordanted gelatin coating of the receiving paper. The dyes were transferred in succession and in registration. Although registration holes were punched in the matrices which were used with registration pins to ensure exact registration, it is very common for prints to have slight misregistration.
Under 10x magnification, the image appears diffuse and continuous in tone.
With increasing magnification of 30x, the image is still continuous in tone.
The image appears diffuse and truly continuous in tone, even at 50x magnification. Paper fibers may be visible depending on the layer structure of the print.
With low magnification of 10x, misregistration is often visible.
Dye Transfer prints have a three layer structure consisting of a paper support, baryta layer, and a single image bearing gelatin layer. Receiving papers were available in three different surfaces. The "A" surface has a very thin baryta layer allowing the paper fibers to be visible. The "G" surface has an applied texture and a medium to thin baryta layer allowing the paper fibers to be partially visible. The "F" surface has a thick baryta layer so the paper fibers are completely obscured.
F surface. With raking light and 50x magnification, paper fibers are obscured although there is a slight texture to the surface.
A surface. With raking light and 50x magnification, paper fibers are visible
G surface. With raking light and 50x magnification, paper fibers are partially visible. The applied texture is also visible, though better seen with lower magnification.