The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-07-26
MAKING NEWSPAPER PICTURES
Steady Progress in the Production of Cuts
for the Press.

for the Press.
Probably in no department of the
modern newspaper has the develop
nent been so rapid as in that of pro-
1ucing the pictures and illustrations
which go to make attractive the ar
Sicles on daily happenings. Twenty
years ago an editor considered himself
lucky if he could have cut made
and ready for his forms in ten days
Now the drawings are made and the
cuts" finished in from one hour to
an hour and half When an accident,
disaster, or anything else of interest
happens in the morning newspaper
readers expect to see pictures of the
matter in afternoon editions.
To explain this comparatively new
art is the purpose of this article. And,
TO begin the subject at the foremost
end, one must speak of the newspaper
artist. In the first place, he is type
by himself He is even different from
the individual who does the work of
Frank Leslie's and Harper's weeklies.
They have plenty of time to correct
errors. The newspaper artist hasu't.
He must be rapid, accurate and withal
finished. He must be able to draw
everywhere, under any condition. and
get produce very credita bic work.
There are scores of these men. Their
names are too numerous to mention.
To the cartoonist the editor gives an
idea of what he desires. a photograph,
if likeness is wanted. is handed to
the illustrating artist. If it is picture
Of a railroad wreck or anything of this
kind that is needed the artist makes a
trip to the scene with his first cousin.
the reporter, and he takes in lines
what the reporter puts in words.
From the artist the picture then goes
to that part of the building where the
illustrating department is located.
The man in charge is an expert in
photo engraving or zinc etching"
He seizes the drawing. SLABS it into
frame before a powerful camera, and
the picture is photographed with a
density that would give the president
of an amateur club spasms The neg
alive is almost black, but through it
the lines of the sketch show with
NllAlC II IAEA DACCC VI
zinc the size the cut is TO be made is
covered with a solution, which has the
property of becoming insoluble when
affected by light. On this the power
full rays of an electric light are thrown
through the white lines of the mega
tive, and picture, almost invisible to-
the eve, on the zinc is the result The
whole surface of the zinc is then light
" rolled with etchers' ink, after which
It is given a bath in tub OF water
Wherever the surface of the plate has
remained unaffected by the light the
film dissolves, carrying away with it
the ink This, of course. leaves the
insoluable lines on the plate, and by a
few deft touches with piece of cotton
the operator brings the picture into
view. The lines are then busted with
powder made of dragons tooth"
which adheres to the sticky etchers'
ink and forms protection TO them
from the acid in which the plate is next
immersed. In this last immersion the
surface of the plate which is unpro-
tected by the powder is eaten away by
the acid, leaving the lines in relief
The plate is then finished, requiring
an~hour or an hour and half, and it
then goes to the stereotyper. IN. I.
Advertiser.