Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-01-03
How ChrOmOs are Made.

Probably very few, even OF those persons
who are generally well informed, have the
slightest conception OF the various processes by
which those wonders of modern initiative art
popularly known rs Chromos. are gradually
developed, step by step, to a perfection which
almost de6Ss discrimination in comparing
with the original. The photographic, or stone
process, is that generally used in this country
but having been found too slow, and inherently
defective for rendering some Of the most delicate
tints, great effort has been made to find sub.
stitute, by which a higher degree of perfection
| could be attained, and the superior productive
capacity Of relief substituted for the uncertain
ties and delays Of surface printing.
Many years ago, Mr.. Charlss Stahl, litho-
graphic engravsr of high reputs, directed his
attention to this subject, and after years OF pa
tient and enthusiastic devotion, he has over
come all difficulties, and has so perfected his
process as to insure a complete revolution in
the art of color printing.
Msssrs. James Sutton e. Co., Of So Maiden
Lane, New York, publishers of The Aldiae,
adopted his process for the production Of their
Premium Chromos, some three years ago and,
with the increased facilities thus placed at his
disposal, Mr. Stahl has been enabled to achieve
the most admirable results, and the Arm 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 ood paper, on which a
tracing of every outline is mada. This outline
is then transferred to lithographic stone,
known as the "Rey." A number of plates,
equal to the number Of iDis desired, is ne 1t pre-
pared, and an impression from the Key is print
ed 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 haye re-
produce the particular shade assigned to il.
The untouched portions Of the plate arS then
covered with peculiar preparation, aud a
galvanc bath nicely governed, does the work
of an engraVer, but does IT as no engravsr could
possibly do it-true to a hair, and finer, 1T
necessary, than the naked eve can discover
Each plate is printed in its turn on the paper,
and every impression mnst be so adjusted tO its
predecessors, that there shall not be the slight
eat variation.
When ii is considered that as many as twenty
or thirty plates are Oiten required-that some
portions OF tint are preserved pure to the end,
while others are covered and affected By one or
and knowledge Of Various combinations of color
required Of an artist WHO essays to lay out and
complete the plates for ChTomo, may be faint
ly imagined by those who see and admire tue
splendid results Of his lasors.
In The Aidins establishment may be seen two
Immense Cottrel 4 Babcnck printing machines,
selected for their accuracy Of register and per-
feet distribution. These presses are constantly
occupied 10 printing the ChrOmos to be given
as premiums to subscribers to The Aidins for
1873
The process of relief printing has, among
many, this very important advantage over
liihographyi the printing is not from surface
irarsfers never perfect, and continually do
manding rOnewal-but direotly from the engrav
ing itself, which, being on hard metal. win not
wear out: Persons who arc satisfied with the
specimens shown, may be assured that the
copies they get will be even better, as practice
constantly improves the adjustment Of the
cllnrs.
Since Tic lhiinc originated the plan of giving
subscribers Chrumos fiee, nearly every paper