The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-24
How the Pictures are Made

For Christmas books and other line
specimens of the craft is matter Of consid-
cradle inquiry. Steel and wood engrayings
arc outstripped by the new processes,
some of which are here described: The de-
tnand for sumptuousIy illustrated books has
caused to be added to the book making arts
several photo-mechanical processes, which
aim to combine the accuracy of photo
graphic reproduction with the permanence
Of steel engraving. Though some Of these
processes have been before the public for
many years they are far from being so well
known that repetition of their methods
and merits will be superfuous. European
publishers use these photo-mechanical
prints very extensively in their finest books,
especially when only limited editions can
expect to find sale, and while American
book makers have begun to look with favor
upon these illustrations an immense devel-
opment doubtless awaits them In the Inn
mediate future Artotype, albertype, hello
type, phototypc, collotype, Lichtdruck,
ETC., are some of the manifold names given
to pictures or prints that are made from
gelatinous surface impressed photo graphi-
calIy and printed in printing ink quite in
the same manner and on the same sort OF
press as is used in photography. OF the
processes mentioned the albertype is the
original. 1t was invented in 1868, by
Joseph Albert, the Court Photographer of
Munich, Bavaria and has been successfully
operated by him ever since. Some changes
were made at different times in the method
of preparing the surfaces used for printing,
by Husnick, Obernetter, Edwards and
others, who experimental in the same d.
reetion, and each of these gentlemen desig-
mated his particular improvement with anew
name, however little it varied from the
parent invention
The albertype was first introduced into
the United States by f. Bierstadt, of New
York City, in 1869, the year following its
publication in Germany, and the process
was worked, with fair measure of success,
until 1873. Then some improvements
made by Obernetter, of Munich, we're add
ed The best parts Of both processes were
united under the name of the artotype, and
this has continued in use ever since. An
artotype company was formed, Eut Mr..
Bierstadt bought it out and is now the
owner Of the artotype patent for the United
States. The heliotype process is worked
by Messrs Osgood & Co., Of Boston, UNI
der patents issued to Mr.. Ernest Edward
The artotype is made in the follow ag
manner A plate, preferably of glass, is
carefully coated with solution of gelatine
containing bichromate of potash. 1t is
then dried, and an ordinary Photographic
negative is placed in contact with it and
exposed to the action of light, which har-
dens all the parts corresponding with the
transparent parts Of the negative or the
dark parts of the picture. After the proper
exposure the plate is washed in cold water
to remove all the sensitising material, and
it is then dried The geIatine surface will
be found to have changed SO that it will
act precisely like Photographic stone;
when moistened the parts that were pro-
tected from light by the opaque parts of
the negative absorb water, while other parts
remain dry A roller charged with fatty
ink is rolled over the plate, the ink adher
ing to the dry parts and being rejected by
the parts that have absorbed water. Paper
is now placed on the linked surface and
subjected to pressure, when the design viii
be transferred to the piece of paper. Then
the moistening, ink and pressure are re-
peated until the required number of copies
has been produced.
The photogravure process takes plate
and covers it with solution Of bichroma-
ted gelatine, containing fine powder to
give it a grain. This is exposed to light
through negative, just as is done in max
ing artotypes. Then it is washed in hot
water, which dissolves all the gelatine that
was not affected by the light, carrying with
it the fine powder, and which leaves the
gelatine with the grain in all the dark parts
of the picture The plate is now dried and
placed in an electroplating bath, or an inn
precision in wax is made from the gelatine
plate and then placed in an electroplating
bath. Copper is deposited until sufficiently
thick, when the plate is removed and put
into the hands of an engrayer, who repairs
all the imperfections and makes any other
desired changes with the BURN. impress
sions are taken from the plate in the same
manner as any copper or steel plate engrav-
ing is done. The cost of printing phota-
gravures is very nearly the same as that of
printing artotypes, but the photogravure
plate costs much more than the artetype
plate, and unless the edition required is
very large, the plate alone will cost more
than the complete edition in artotype.
The heliogravure is printed in the same
manner as the photogravure, though the
method Of preparing the plate may be some
what different. The various processes de-
pend very greatly on the skill of the manip-
uIator, and when managed by experts of
good taste, they are all capable Of yielding
equally excellent results.
American work with the processes men
toned is at somewhat of disadvantage in
comparison with European work. One
reason is that there are very few artists in
this country who paint pictures of the kind
reproduced by GoupiIs photogravure, and
these few require so high price as to
forbid publication. Furthermore the pa
irons Of art will pay more for foreign work
than for American productions, while the
cost of working and process here is greater
than in Europe.
Brauns reproductions are made in Dor
mach, Switzerland, and his process is diff
ferent from those already mentioned
Paper is covered with gelatine containing
India ink, lamp-black, or any other desired
pigment, until the whole surface is thickly
coated, when it is dried. In making a
picture this prepared paper is immersed in
a solution of bichromate of potash for a
few minutes and then dried in the dark,
after hich it is exposed to light in con-
tact with negative. When sufficient iso-
Iation has taken place, the paper is moist
ened and pressed face downwards upon a
prepared glass plate. After pressure of
several minutes the glass and paper are
laid in hot water, which dissolves the gela-
tine and loosens the paper, SO that the
latter may be stripped off, leaving most of
the gelatine on the glass. The gelatine
continues to dissolve, until only SO much Of
it is left as has been sufficiently hardened
by light as to resist the solution by the
hot water. When washed away, until
only enough is left to form the picture, the
picture, after drying, is transferred topaper,
then finally mounted on cardboard.