Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-01-04
HOW GHR0M0S ARE MADE
An Interesting Account OF an Interest
ing Prooess-The Aldine ONCE.

IIOUhUlN Ntl1 ltMf tNNu VI AiNHt Iti-
sons who are generally well-informed,
have the slightest conception Of the various
processes by which those wonders of
modern initiative art, popularity known as
Chromos, are gradually developed, step
by step, to perfection which almost de-
fes discrimination in comparing with the
original. The lithographle, or stone pro
cess, is that generally used In this country
hut having been found too slow, and in
herently defective for rendering some OF
the most delicate tints, great effort has
been made to find q substitute, by which
higher degree OF perfection could be at
iained, aud the superior productive capa-
city OF relief substituted for the unoer
taintles aud delays Of surface printing.
Many years ago, Mr. Charles stahl, a
lithographic enRiaver OF high repute,
directed his attention to this subject, and
after years of patient and enthusiastic de-
votlon, he has overcome all difficulties,
and has so effected his process as to insure
n complete revolution in the art of color
printing.
Messrs James Sutton & Co., of So
Maiden Lane, New York, publishers Of
TnR ALDINE, adopted his process for the
production Of their Premium Chromos,
some three years ago and, with the in-
creased facilities thus pllced at his dis
possl, Mr.. Siahl has been enabled to
achieve the most admirable results, and
the firm are now printing Chromos, equal
in every respect to the very best foreign
specimens.
The picture to be copied Is covered with
transparent sheet OF oiled paper, on
which tracing of every outline Is made.
This outline is then transferred to litho
! l.. A % - 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 crayon such portions Of thu
outline on each plate as he wishes to have
reproduce the particular shade assigned IL
The untouched portions Of the plate are
then covered with a peculiar preparation
and a galvanic bath picely governed, doe'
the work of an engravtr, but docs II at
no engrnver could possibly do it-true tC
a hair, aud finer, IL necessary, than the
naked eye can discover. Each plate II
printed in its turn on the paper, and every
impression must hc so adjusted TO III
predecessors, that there shall not be the
slightest variation.
When II is considered that as many az
twenty or thirty plates arc often required
that some portions Of tint are pro
served pure to the end, while others are
covered and affected by enc or all succeed
ing mpressiOns-the marvellous skill ant
kuo Wedge of various combinations o
color required of an artist who essays Il
lay oct aud complete the plates for
chrome. may he faintly imagined by thOs
who see aud admire the splendid results o
his lnbors.
In the Adlino ustabishmont may he see
two immense Coitrell 81 Babcock printlu
machines, selected for their accuracy q
register and perfect distribution. 1hes
presses are constantly occupied in print
ng the chromos to he given a. premium
to the Subscribers TO tho 1idine OF 1873.
The process of re,icl printing ha'
among many, this very important hdyar
tago over lithography the printing Is IL
from surface frdHJsrs-ncver perfect, an
continually demanding ronewal-hut d
rcctly nom ,hc engraving itself, whici
being hard metal, will not wear out iei
sons who arc satisfied with the specimen
shown, may he assured that the copit
they get will be even better, as practit
constantly improves the adjustment of Ii
colors.
Since the AiiHe originated the plan
giving subscribers Chromos free, near
4 every INltl nl dhl lltAthaloh hee nN'ie'
Il the idea, and many things called chrome
have been extensively advertised and putlt
all over the country. The well-know
. artistic standing of the Aidhis vas qua
l. antee that ils Premium ChIomos would
everything that the most fastidious cou
desire aud the specimens of "Ihe VI
y lage Belle" and "Crossing the Moor
now before us, fully Justify every expect
ton.
l' The superior facilities Of the publishe
enable them TO deliver a large edition
these chromos to subscribers immediatol
and they can keep pace with demal
equal To 10000 pairs per month fro
January.
1t is estimated that before June Il
over 2, 2,5O0,O0O Impressions will be print
70 on each of thefc ohr0mOs, which Won
le give 100000 pairs. Such an edition
ST chromos OF such grade and size II
N iAches eachJ is an utterly unheard-
7; thing, and a year ago would have eaus
"a our slower cousins across the water
D. laugh at the protector as fool. But Il
is not a country of pFecedents il Is OF
y asked is the thing possible ana presi
le American en- nlerprlse d es it