Evening star., 1912-09-07

tistic than steel, it was softer and did
not yield as many good Impressions, so
was not as good for illustrating pro-
cesses. During the early part of the nine
teenth century the production of gift
books and ANNALS containing choice Sc
lections of poetry and literature became
distinct branch of the publishing bus-
ness. first in England and later in Eu-
rope and the United States. These were
elaborately illustrated some Of the best
artists of the period vieing with each
other in making designs both for the IL
luStrations proper, as well as the Initial
letters. tail pieces and scrolls with which
these volumes were further embellished.
A later development in the production
of metal engravings was the use OF COP
per plates upon which the design was
engraved or etched, after which the plate
was hardened and protected by thin
coating of steel put on by galvanic action.
The first Impressions taken from the
earlier engravings always were more
valuable because OF their softness and
richness.
pensive to become in common use for
the illustration of current periodicals.. so
about the middle of the nineteenth CEN
tury there was revival of wood en-
craving for this purpose. 1t began to
flourish in the United States about the
time of the civil war, and for about a
quarter of a century was the prevalent
mode of illustration. especially for all
sorts of periodicals.. While many people
now regard it as obsolete. there are
others who consider that it always will
have a certain commercial value as there
are purposes for which it is better adapted
than any of the new process methods
yet In use. There are several high-cla
magazines which still employ high
salaried wood engraver upon their staff
of illustrators. These men are classed
as artists and command high salaries.
The wood that is best adapted for en-
craving purposes is box, and the best is
Boxwood Is Best Turkey. 1t is
Adapted for Purpose. the % grain into
blocks, which when finished will be the
same height as type, and these blocks
are subjected to an elaborate seasoning
process before they are ready for use.
Each wood engraving is the representa-
tive of a drawing which has been made
upon the block the unshaded parts being
cut away and the lines which give the
form, shading, texture and quality left
standing in bold relief by the excava-
tions made between them with the en-
graver'S tool.
BY the modern use Of the camera, wood
engrayings may be made from photo
graphs mace Q1reCtly upUH lHc WOOu
stead of being drawn in by hand as was
formerly necessary. To certain people
no process work compares with the wood
engraving from an artistic STANDPOINT,
since the engraving is made according to
the true principles of art. 1t is not me-
chanical, but embodies the true spirit OF
the man who engraved it. Each stroke
of the tool adds to its beauty and value.
just as each stroke from the brush adds
to the value Of the artists painting.
Some claim that the wood engraving
has a commercial value, especially for
well upon cheap paper as heavy. and,
therefore. effects an economy in postage.
but in most modern printing establish
ments it cannot be used without electro
| typing.
especially in point of speedy production.
! came the chalk line prints upon which
line drawings were made. This process
| was invented by Maurice Joyce in the
7Os, and the patent sold by him to a
throughout the country. This process
| consisted of preparing a combination OF
white clay and plaster of paris. and al
lowing it to harden upon a metal plate.
On this chalklike substance a drawing
was made by the artist. who made deep
lines in the chalk with an engraver's s
knife. An impression Of these lines was
made with hot metal used for type max
ing and from this the electrOtype was
made from which an illustration could be
printed-the whole process often occupy
ing less than an hour This process is
1t was general in many daily newspaper
offices. since it enabled them to produce
portraits within a few minutes of going
to press at a period when photo-engraving
work occupied much more time than at
present.