An Improved Method of and Devices for Producing Embossed or Bas-relief Photographs.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Devices for Producing Embossed or
Bas-relief Photographs.
I, ALFRED MARTIN, of Wanganui, in the Colony of New Zealand, Photographer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention bas reference to embossing photographs to give them more realistic
appearance than is attainable by the flat surfaces at present in vogue, and has for its
object to provide a method and devices by which an effective result may be obtained
in an inexpensive manner by an artist of moderate skill.
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The object of the invention is carried out by making in the usual way a negative of
any desired size and form. On the film side and near the corners of this negative
I attach wafers of opaque paper cut out by means of a steel punch. The wafers are
placed as far away as practicable from the centre of the picture in order that they may
be out of the way and covered when the picture is mounted. The back of a sheet of
sensitised paper preferably that known as Rapid Bromide" is placed in contact
with the negative in a printing frame and a reversed image of the picture obtained
by exposure in the usual way. Images of the wafers will appear with the image of
the picture. The reversed image thus obtained is mounted upon a block or piece of
wood about half an inch in thickness. When dry, the outline of that part of the
figure which it is desired to emboss is carefully traced over with a lead pencil, and the
block is then pierced through with a fretsaw following such pencil lines, thus leaving
a perforation the boundary of which will coincide with the outline of the figure. Å
finished positive print is now made from the negative and mounted upon thin sheet
brass, copper, zinc, or other ductile material, and when dry, the portions covered by
the images of the wafers are cut out by the steel punch. This perforated positive
picture is then laid face downwards upon the reversed image or such parts of the
reversed image as are left upon the pierced block, care being taken that the
perforations exactly correspond with the images of the wafers on the block.
A pad of thick sheet india rubber or wadding is now placed upon the metal backing
of the positive picture and the whole subjected to pressure under a press, an ordinary
copying press is admirably suitable for the purpose.
On removing the picture from the press it will be found that the parts extending
over the perforation in the block have been pressed forwards in the perforation and
have assumed a pleasing general bas-relief effect.
To model the more delicate details, the picture still in contact with the pierced
block is placed in a vice or otherwise held firmly to leave the artist's hands at liberty
to work on either or both sides of the picture, and so that he may gently depress
from the front such parts as are required, and press forward from the back such other
parts as he may desire. For this work pencils preferably of soft wood shaped to suit
the requirements may be employed, but if the fingers are used soft leather or kid
gloves or finger stalls should be worn in order that the picture may not be marked.
If thought desirable the indented portion at the back of the picture may be
filled with plaster of Paris or the like to render it solid, but this is not necessary
when the picture is to be protected under glass in a frame.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details
herein before mentioned as these may be modified in several ways without departing
from the spirit of my invention.

page_text: I am aware that photographs have been embossed prior to my invention and I
do not claim such processes broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
1. In a method of producing embossed or bas-relief photographs a backing of
ductile material whereon the positive print may be moulded and supported,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
2. In a method of producing embossed or bas-relief photographs a pierced block
cut to the outline of a reversed image prepared or mounted thereon, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth herein.
3. In a method of producing embossed or bas-relief photographs, in combination,
a sheet of india rubber or wadding, a ductile backing, and a pierced block cut
to the outline of the reversed image, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
bercin.
4. The herein described method of producing embossed or bas-relief photographs,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 23th day of March 1.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.