New-York tribune., 1907-07-01
COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
Problem of Printing Declared to Have Been
Solved by American Inventor.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir Referring 10 the subject OF color photogra-
ply. mentioned by you this morning in connection
with the Lumiere brothers of Paris I wish to con-
Arm your skepticism about their latest results
Their attempt Is described in 'L1lustration for
June l5 where II is said that In practice the re-
suits little satisfactory tpeu satisfaiSants on
account of the impossibility OF securing intimate
contact between the negative and positivel elul-
sions and inevitable loss OF color. Copying in
camera would avoid this difnculty, a fact which
must be we'll known abroad! The real reason Of
the failure lies elsewhere. ana 10 one acquainted
with the subject is simple.
In taking the negative for such photographs as
are Included in the discussion color
filter in front OF and In close contact with the
photographic emulsion; this filter consists of MI
mute differently coored areas in regular or irresu-
lar distribution. II the regular distribution method
is employed a multitude Of pOstives may be made
from and the same negative. and on covering
each positive properly with exact duplicate OF
tho filter used in taking the negative but with the
colors Of the latter replaced by the fundamental
colors (red. green, blue-violet). the photographs
show the object in the cOlors Of nature or colOrs
seeming such 70 the eye. But II the same Alter oe
used both for taking the negative and viewing the
positive, the results are little satisfactory lpeu
satisfaisantsl."
With Irregular distribution Of the colored media
II is mathemlticaIIy impossible 10 secure dupli-
cate OF any filter. and printing positive IS un-
availing Attempts have been made 10 print the
positive Thy white Ngho on a plate having the
emulsion masked by colored particles. but rad is
Just likely to come out green. or 20 be wanting
altogether. a 1t IS TO be red. and so for other
coIoTs T-be reason IS that the red alter used in
taking the negative (Which red hlte- is really
orange in hue) transmits all the rays from the red
end OF the spectrum clear over 20 the green; the
green hter transmits from the scarlet to the
blua-vioet. and the blue filter from the funda-
mental green to the violet end of the spectrum.
But the colors which must be used in viewing
tho positive Qf the coors OF nature to be pre-
served narrow bands Of color at the red, the
green and the violet regions OF the spectrum II one
tries 10 print by white light through the negative
and It's filter the coiored particles sift out the
blues and violets only and transmit all other rays,
whereas one may want red only. and similarly for
the yellowsh green and the violet blue particles OF
the tter The result is wholly false rendition OF
color values. or more euphemstIcally. II is little
satisfactory!
This Is not TO say. however that the problem IS
insouble for IL is soluble. and has been sOlved-by
an American inventor. 1t is material 10 his
invention whether the colors be regularly or pro-
miscuously distributed the filters: he can print
postives innumerable from and the same mega
1--WE. each positive carries it's own colors with It,
and such colors are true nature
Perhaps should say that the same filters cannot
ne used for both taking the negative and viewing
the positive with any hope OF realizing ANYTHING
IKE truthful reproduction of the coIors of nature
nave specimen or so to prove this statement a
specimen made in 1896; also. specimens made prop
erIy and proving the statement that different III
ters are required for the negative and the posttye
new hork, June %. l9o r. w. BARKLEY.