Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-10

Stone Tor each separate Color The artist
commences his work by making delicate and
elaborate ink tracing Of the picture; not onl>
its general outlines, but the minute and in
tricase touches and shades Of color Of which
it is composed. The tracing papsr is chem
ically prepared, 80 that the lines upon it car
be readily transferred to stone. A press l.
employed to transfer the impressions on the
paper 70 the stone, considerable pressurs
being used. Thousands of impressions CAP
then be taken from the stone by SIMPLY run
ming an mix roller over it,
The tracing thas transferred forms what II
known as the key stone Suppose there are
twenty colors in the chrome. This number
Of impressions is taken from the key stone anc
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 a separate color, aud therefore
must contain not only all that is necessary OF
that color Of the picture. to the minutest dc
tail, but all OF the compound colors, made by
printing one or more over others. A variety
of gradations OF color from ios full strength
to the faintest tinting can be produced or
each stone, just as ia 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 sllillful as the artist
in applying ais coiors, 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 tbs margin of a chrome.
These are the registering marks; and enable
the printer to place the sheet in the same
relative position every time new stone Is
used and a new color applied. These lines
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 Oh 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 a per
feet register is secured and each color falls
just where it belongs.
The next process is to make the chrome
have rough surface like an oil painting. A
stone is now prepared which has rough stfT-
face similar TO canvas The chrome Is then
laid upon it and passed through press with
heavy pressure. W hen it comes forth Ii IL
IN exact imitation of the painting. 1t l.
then vanished, and thus you have the cnro
mo ready for tbs market.
The world is yet practically dependent or
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 a very fine
quality If it should prove so, it will be lit
orally q gold nlifae. the finer quality OF
stone is today worth thirteen cents per pound,
and is very scarce.-Nashville (Tenn.) Times