The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-12-12
How Chromos are Made.

Probably very few, even of those person
who are generally vol informed, have tn
slightest conception Of the various processe
by which those wonders Of modern imitativ
art, pdpuarly known as Chromos, are gradu
ally dsFeloped, step by step, to perfection
which Almost defes discrimination in com com
pairing With the original. The photographic
or stspe process, is that generally used II
tthis sSpntry; but having. been found to'
slow and inherently defective for rendering
some ofsthe most delicate tints, great 'effor
has been made to find a substitute, by which
q highsraegree Of perfection could be attain
ed, sndsthe superior productive capacity 81
relief substituted for the uncertainties and
delays Of surface printing. SC ri
Many years ago, Mr. Charles Stahl,
lithographic e1graSer of high repute, direct
ed hiss Sstention TO- this subject, and aftel
years of f..patient and enthusiastic devotion
he has sd perfected his process as to insure
completesr esrevolution in the art of color print
ing. - -, ,J,,.,.s.-', -.
= Messrs, James Sutton & Co., of SO Maiden
Lane, New York, publishers of The Aldine
had adopted his process for the production oi
their Premium Chromos, some three years
ago; and, with the increased facilities thus
placed atshis disposal, Mr.. Stahl has been en-.
abled TO achieve the most admirable results,
and tho firm are now printing Chromos,
equal inseyery rtspect to the very best for.
eign specimens.
The p;stpre to be copied is covered with
a transparent sheet of oiled paper, on which
a tracing of every outline is made. This out
line is.then transferred to.a photographic
stone,s known as the Key A number Of
plates, equal to the number Of tints desired,
is nextpyepared, and an impression from
the Key is printed on each. With the origi-
al before him, the artist fills in with o cray
ton such portions of the outline on each plate
as he wishes to have reproduce the particular
shade asssgped 10 it.. {
The untouched portions Of the plate are
then cose5ed with a peculiar preparation,
and a galysnic bath nicely governed, does
the workofan engrayer, but does it as no
engraver cenld possibly do it-true to q
hair, and finer, if necessary, than the naked
eye can Discover. Each plate is printed in
It's turn on lie paper, and every impression
must be- 50 1djnsted to its predecessors. that
there shall nd be the slightest variation.
When if considered that as many as
twenty OF tlliftY plates are often required
that some III lions ofa tint are preserved
pare to t3s "a. while others are covered
and afe6( by one or all succeeding i'm
pressions marvellous skill and knowledge
Of various "a 5aations Of color required Of
an artiSt Z vs. 70 lay out and complete
the plS!sS - ehfomo, : may be isintB I'M
agined BY those who see and admire the
splendidresults .of, his labors. ~
In The Aldine establishment may be seen
two immense Cottrel Il Babcock printing
machines, selected for their accuracy Of, reg
lister and perfect distribution. These presses
are constantly occupied in printing the Chro.
mos to bc givef as premiums to subscribers
to The ALDINE for 1873. :e -
The process. of relief printing has, among
many, this very important advantage over
lithography: the printing is not from surface
asfers-never perfect, and continually
demanding renewal-but directly. from the
engraving itself, which, being on hard metal
will not wear out. Persons who are satisfied
with the specimens shown, may be assured
that thecopies they get will be even better,
as practice constantly improves the adjust,
ment of the colors. u:
The superior facilities of the publishers en-
able them TO- deliver alarge edition Of these
Chromos to subscribers Immediately, and
they can keep pace with demand equal to
20 900 pairs per month from January.
Cr.r Irr,r Raaa1 Tho Naehrilla lIninn