The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-12-13
HOW CHROMOS ARE MADE.


lr. persons who are generally we'll
do formed, hsve the slightest cOncepti
to OF the various processes by viii
on those wonders OF modern imitati
lr- art, popularity known as chrome
be are gradually developed, step by ste
to perfection which almost def
eI discrimination IN comparing with d
original. Tie lilhographic, or stol
process, is that generally used in th
A. country; but having been found Il
in Glow, and inherently defective +,
u rendering some of the most delica
ne ilnts, grest effort has been made
AZ nnd substitute, by which q high,
~ degree OF perfection could be u
o lained, and the superior product,
!. capsciry of relief sub b.tituted for Il
4 uncertainties and delays OF surfaC
y printing.
Many years sgo, Mr.. Charlt
= Stahl, a lithograpbic engraver of hig
o repute, directed his attention to thi
: subject, and after years of palier
!. and enthusiastic devotion, be hs
overcome all difficulties, and has s
a perfected his process as to insure
Q complete revolution in the art of col
or printing.
\ Riessrs. James Sutton & Co, of 5
Msiden Lane, New York, publisher
OF the Aldi'ae, adopted bis prcces
! for the production of their Premium
/ Cbromos, some three years ago; and
with the increased facilities thu
! placed at his disposal, Mr.. Stahl hal
been enabled to achieve the mos
admirable results, and the firm ar.
now printing chromos equal in every
respect TO the very best foreign
specimens.
The picture TO be copied is cover.
ed with transparent sheet of oiled
paper, on which tracing of every
OutliEe is made The outline is then
transferred TO lithographic stone,
known as the "Key" A number of
plates, equal to the number of tints
desired, is next prepared, and an i'm
preston from the key is printed on
each. With the original before him
the artist fills in with a crayon such
portions OF the outline on each plate
as he wishes to have reproduced the
particular shade assigned to 1t.
The untouched portions of the
plate are then ,yered with q peculiar
preparation, aid galvanic bath,
nicely governed, does the work OF an
engraver, but does it as no elgraver
could possibly do it-true to q hair,
and finer, II necessary, Than the
naked eye can discover. Each plate
is printed in its turn on the paper,
and every impression must be 60
adjusted to its predecessors that
there shall be not the slightest vari-
atiGn.
When it is considered that as many
as twenty or thirty plates are often
Iequired-that some portions of q
tint are preserved pure to the end,
while others are covered and affected
by one or all succeeding impressions
the marvellous skill and knowledge
of various combinations OF color re-
quired of an artist who essays to lay
out and complete the plates of chro-
mo, may be family imagined by those
who see and admire the splendid
results of his laboIs.
In the AIdills establishmentmay be
seen two immense Cottrell & Babcock
printing machines, selected for their
&C uracy of register and perfect dis
tribution. These presses are con-
stantly occupied in printing the
chrOUos to be given as premiums to
subscribers to tie Aldine for 1873.
TIE process of relief printing has,
among many, this very important
advantage over lithcgraphy; the
printing is not from surface lransfers
never perfect, and continually de-
msnding renewsl-but directly from
the engraving itself, which, being on
hard metal will not wear out. Per-
sons who are satisfied with the epeci
mems shown, may be assured that
the copies they get will be even bet
ter, as practice constantly improves
the adjustment of the cOloTs.
Since the Aldihs originated the
plan of giving subscribers chromos
free, nearly every paper OF any pre-
tensions has adopted the idea, and
msny things called chromos hsve
been extensively advertised and puff.
ed all over the country. The we'll
known artistic standing OF the Aldins
was guarantee that its premium
chromos would be every thing that
the most fsstidious could desire; and
the specimens OF "The Village Belle"
and Crossing the Moor" now be-
fore us, fully justify every expects
tion.
The superior facilities of the pub
fishers enable them to deliver a large
edition of these chromos to subscri-
bers Immediately, and they can keep
pace with a demand equal to 10000
pairs per month from January.
1t is estimated that before June LIST,
over 2,500,000 impressions will be
printed on each OF these chromos,
which would give 100000 pairs.
Such an edition of chromos Of such o
grade and size (14x20 inches each, J
is an utterly unneard of thing, and q
year ago would have csused oar
slower cousins across the water to
laugh at the protector as fool. But
this is not country of precedents !;
it is only asked-is the thing posi-
bic ? and prsstoi American enter
prise does it