The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-07
HOW A CHRONIC IS MADE.
An Interesting Process with Which Few
People Are Familiar.

An Interesting Process with Which Few
People Are Familiar.
We see tens of thousands of chromos which
are given away by every enterprsing busi-
neSs man, yet venture the assertion that
very few know how they IRE produced To
properly produce chrome the photographer
must be en- rapport with the artist. He must
analyze the picture, fully realize the combi-
nations OF colors and the spirit of the work.
Having determined just how many basic
colors enter into the picture, the artist COM
mences his work by preparing a photographic
stone for each separate color. The artist
commences his work by making delicate and
elaborate ink tracing of the picture; not only
its general outlines, but the minute and in
tricate touches and shades of color of which
1t Is composed. The tracing paper is chem
ioally prepared, so that the lines upon it can
be readily transferred to stone press is
employed to transfer the impressions on the
paper TO the stone, considerable pressure
being used Thousands of impressions can
then be taken from the stone by simply rum
ming an ink roller over it.
The tracing thus transferred forms what is
known as the key stone. Suppose there are
twenty colors i'm the chrome This number
OF impressions is taken from the key stone and
each carefully busted with red chalk. A dim
offset of the entire tracing is then pressed ON
each one of these stones.
The drawing then begins, and often occu-
pies many months. Each stone is to be
printed in separate color, and therefore
must contain not only all that is necessary of
that color of the picture, to the minutest de-
tail, but all of the compound colors, made by
printing one or more over others A variety
of gradations of color from its full strength
to the faintest tinting can be produced on
each stone, just as in using an ordinary pencil
or crayon on drawing paper. These various
colors are, of course. worked up in black by
the artist, and it is the printer who applies
the colors. The lines on each separate stone
are etched with the wash Of nitric acid and
gum arabic, and are ready for the presses.
The printer must be as skillful as the artist
in applying his colors, and must fully realize
the blending and effect of each color. As
fast as each color is printed it is submitted to
the artist, who has thus progressive proof
of the work.
1t has been probably noticed that lines
cross each other on the margin of chrome.
These are the registering marks; and enable
the printer to place the sheet in the same
relative position every time a new stone is
ooCA AhNA q LO" SOioi oppliOu lucSo ililtS
are drawn in the original tracing and appear
on each stone When the first color is print
ed very small holes are punctured in each
sheet at the intersection of these lines, very
fine holes are also drilled in corresponding
positions on each of the subsequent stones,
and the holes in the paper are to correspond
precisely with the holes in the stone, and
thus as each additional color is put on per-
feet register is secured and each color falls
| just where it belongs
| The next process is to make the chrome
have a rough surface like an oil painting. A
stone is now prepared which has rough sur
| face, similar to canvas The chrome is then
laid upon it and passed through press with
heavy pressure. When it comes forth it is
an exact imitation of the painting 1t is
/ then vanished, and thus you have the chro-
mo ready for the market.
The world is yet practically dependent on
one quarry in Bavaria for its photographic
stone. Stones have been found in France
England, Canada and the United States but
none possess the qualities of the best German
stones. A bed of photographic stone has been
found in Sequatchie valley, not far from
Chattanooga, and the investigations so far
indicate that it will yield stone of very fine
quality. If it should prove so, it will be lit
orally gold NINE The finer quality of
stone is today worth thirteen cents per pound,
and is very scarce.-Nashville Nenn.) Times.