IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO COLOR-PRINTING, ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR PRODUCING COLORED PHOTOGRAPHS AND FOR " SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO COLOR-PRINTING, ALSO PARTLY
APPLICABLE FOR PRODUCING COLORED PHOTOGRAPHS AND FOR
"
SIMILAR
PURPOSES communicated to him from abroad by Auguste Bisson, of Paris,
France, Heliographic engraver
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING, TO COLOR-
PRINTING, ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR PRODUCING COLORED PHOTOGRAPHS AND
"
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES [A communication to him from abroad by Auguste
Bisson, of Paris, France, Heliographic engraver]
This invention relates to an improved method or process for producing colored
prints or impressions directly or at the back of photographic pictures by means of
colors mixed with oil or varnish. The said invention has for its chief object to
obtain, by the aid of light, chromic outlines, by means of pieces of paper or other
suitable material cut to the required shape.
This method or process comprises three parts, firstly the printing of a picture by
means of photography, secondly the mode of coloration by printing and cutting
out, and thirdly the mounting of the proofs thus obtained.
This method or process of coloring is applicable to pictures produced by carbon
printing, by photoglyptic engraving, or by phototype, and to photographic pictures
produced by means of a salt of silver. It is based primarily upon the direct
impression, either by means of the carbon or photoglyptic film and upon phototype
printing; these pictures are produced upon a translucid support such as mica,
vegetable parchment, dioptric paper, transparent mineral paper and paper mounted
upon cloth, which I prepare in the following manner in order to obtain complete
transparency, this preparation being effected either before or after the production

page_text: of the picture. The varnish which I employ is composed of volatile benzine
1000 gr. resin 150 gr, and linseed Oil 10 gr; this operation is effected without the
aid of heat and its application to the production of these pictures forms one
feature of the present invention.
The picture being produced, I will proceed to describe the method or process of
printing, in order to obtain the colors, which is one object of the present invention.
This method or process consists in operating as follows, that is to say.
When it
is required to reproduce a picture, I take a photographic proof produced by means
of a salt of silver and I make, either with oil or water color, as faithful a copy of
the said picture as possible as regards its tone.
With regard to portraits it will be sufficient to give a simple statement of the
colors.
The outline sketch being produced the industrial, practical, prompt and
economical part of the process by means of which the draughtsman and the
chromist, whose work is slow and expensive, may be dispensed with, is as follows
viz :-
I operate by means of flat tints, and in consequence of the faithful reproduction
of the picture obtained by photography I am enabled to obtain a result, which
without being a work of art, is nevertheless the most perfect hitherto obtained.
I trace with a pencil or crayon from the outline sketch or copy of the picture
the contour line of each portion having the same tone or shade, making thus say
a dozen tracings; each tracing is then placed upon stout paper, cardboard or a
very thin and opaque sheet of metal so that the rays of light will be intercepted
as required for the subsequent operation, and I cut out carefully the said paper,
cardboard, or metal according to the outlines of the tracings made thereon. No
knowledge of art is necessary for obtaining the required result.
When the above operation is completed prepare as many stones as there are
pieces cut out; these stones are prepared in the dark or under the action of a
yellow light, with a solution of bichromate saturated with albumen or gum.
When the said stones are dry, I place each cut-out piece upon one of the stones
and cover the same with a piece of strong plate glass in order to cause the outlines
to adhere to the said stone and I expose each stone to the action of light. A
complete impression is obtained after a few minutes. The great advantage of this
process is that a result may be obtained in a few hours which by the processes
heretofore employed required several months. The treatment following this
operation is continued under a feeble light, and appertains to the art of chromo-
lithography.
The printing is as follows, that is to say-The picture or rather the photoglyptic
or phototypic film of carbon produced or transferred upon a transparent support is
applied directly either upon the front or back of the filin as required to the stone
which is inked; the printing then commences with the shades of the face, of the
flesh and of the dresses and terminates with the flat tints of the flesh and of the
dress of the persons represented in the picture thus treated. The picture which is
transparent having been placed upon the said stone so that the proofs may be easily
arranged to fit thereupon, pointing can if necessary be resorted to as it is usually
carried out in chromo-lithography. The colors must be prepared so as to dry
rapidly, a drying stove similar to those used in printing establishments being
en ployed to assist such desiccation. If it is only required to obtain a small
number of reproductions I dispense with the impression which is applicable for
industrial purposes. For instance, assuming that a dozen portraits are required, I
then operate directly with the cut-out pieces which I terin patterns and which
resemble oriental painting.
I paste upon the back of the picture, if necessary, a transparent paper such as
vegetable parchment, mineral or dioptric paper according to the coloring effect
which I desire to obtain, and with short brushes I make, by hand, the eyes, the
lips and all other details of the portrait. I then take the stencils arranged for the
purpose and place them in a suitable position relatively to the colors I desire to

page_text: obtain and I commence with the flat tints upon all proofs having the same color.
When the oil color or varnish color is dry, I terminate the operation with the
ground tone by causing a tinted paper in harmony with the subject to adhere to
the back of the picture by means of varnish.
The mounting of the proofs may be effected by causing the same to adhere by
means of varnish, dextrine, or any other suitable substance upon the requisite
material, care being taken to leave the said proofs under pressure during a whole
night.
These proofs may be mounted upon panels or Bristol boards which may be first
subjected to a glazing or smoothing process and then covered with an encaustic
enamel or varnish to protect them from the action of the air.
As regards copies of pictures, they may be mounted upon linen or inserted
between pieces of any suitable fabric and strongly pressed during a whole
night; such copies thus acquire the aspect of an oil painting on canvas and may
be mounted upon a wooden frame and varnished in the same manner as an oil
color painting

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 7th June 1884.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and C° Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO COLOR-
"
PRINTING, ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR PRODUCING COLORED PHOTOGRAPHS AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication to me from abroad by Auguste
Bisson, of Paris, France Heliographic Engraver.
This invention relates to color-printing, but is also applicable for producing
colored photographs and for similar purposes.
The said invention comprises an improved method or process which is applicable
to all kinds of photographic or other pictures, amongst which I will particularly
mention the proofs obtained by means of carbon or salts of silver, such as those
obtained by photoglyptic or phototypic processes; these pictures may be portraits,
reproductions of natural objects or pictures of any other suitable description.
The said method or process consists essentially in printing, impressing or
applying, in the special manner hereinafter described, the necessary colors, either
directly upon one or the other face of the gelatine film bearing the carbon proof or
the photoglyptic proof, or upon a proof obtained upon a translucid support, such as
mica, vegetable parchment, dioptric paper, transparent mineral paper and paper
mounted upon cloth or the like, to which substances I impart complete transparency
by means of an operation which I carry into effect either before or after the
production of the picture. This operation consists simply in immersing the paper
or other substance which is to be rendered completely transparent in a bath of
varnish composed of the following ingredients, viz:—
Volatile or rectified benzine 1000 grammes
Resin
Linseed oil
150 grammes
10 grammes
This mixture is prepared in a water-bath and by a simple agitation which
ensures an intimate mixture of the materials.
The picture being perfectly transparent, either naturally or by means of the
treatment above indicated, I effect the coloring in the following manner, that is to
Bay-When it is required to reproduce a picture I take a photographic proof
produced by means of a salt of silver, upon which proof I apply as faithfully as
possible, as a tone, either oil or water colors, in such a manner as to exactly
reproduce the shades of the picture.
With regard to portraits, it will be sufficient to give a simple statement of the
colors.
Having obtained this outline sketch or copy of the picture, or a pencil or crayon
tracing upon any suitable paper, each outline having as a base the same tone or
shade, that is to say, for example, a dozen different tracings are made, if there are
twelve different shades in the picture; each tracing comprising only the outline
surrounding one color. Each of these tracings is then placed upon a sheet of
stout paper or card-board, or a very thin and opaque sheet of metal in order to
intercept the rays of light for the subsequent operation; the outlines applied to the
said paper, card-board or metal are cut out carefully; then-this operation being
completed as many stones as there are pieces cut out are prepared; these
stones are prepared in the dark or under the action of a yellow light, with a
saturated solution of bicromate of potash in albumen or gum; when the said stones
are dry, the opaque cut-out pieces are laid thereon at the places which are to be
colored; each stone is then exposed to the light, a piece of strong plate-glass being

page_text: placed upon the said stone to cause the said cut out pieces to properly adhere
thereto. A complete impression or fac-simile of the cut-out pieces is obtained
after a few minutes exposure, and the sensitive substance is afterwards removed by
washing in the ordinary manner.
I then place successively upon each stone (taking care that each impression
registers properly) either the carbon or the photoglyptic film, or the photographic
or phototypic picture produced or transferred upon a support rendered completely
transparent in the manner above indicated, in order to effect the impression of
the color either directly upon the front or upon the back of the film as required.
The stones being inked in the ordinary manner, the printing is commenced with
the shades of the figure, in the case of a portrait, for example, the lights, the dresses
and the like, and terminated with the flat tints of the flesh and of the costume.
The colors should be prepared so as to accelerate the drying thereof, which is
completed in a drying stove similar to those used in printing establishments.
If it is only required to obtain a small number of similar proofs, it is
advantageous to dispense with the printing operations, and to effect the coloring
directly with the cut out pieces which I term patterns and which are obtained in
the manner above described; this operation resembles oriental painting.
I paste upon the back of the picture, if necessary, a piece of transparent paper,
such as vegetable parchment, or mineral or dioptric paper, according to the coloring
effect which I desire to obtain; then, after having made, by hand, the eyes, the
lips and other details of the portrait, I take successively the prepared cut-out
pieces, and by the aid of short brushes, I successively apply, by means of flat tints.
the different shades I desire to obtain, passing from one proof to the succeeding
proof having the same coloration. When the oil or varnish color is dry, I
terminate the operation with the ground tone by causing a tinted paper in
harmony with the subject to adhere to the back of the picture by means of
varnish.
This process, which appears complicated, is on the contrary very practicable, as
will be readily ascertained by making use of it. It will moreover be seen that,
in either case, the long and costly employment of a designer and colorist is avoide:
by the application of flat tints obtained either by printing or by hand by means
of cut-out patterns as above indicated.
The colored proofs are finally mounted upon, and caused to adhere by means of
varnish, dextrine or any other suitable substance to, a support, care being taken
to put the said proofs under pressure and allow them to remain so during a
whole night. These proofs may be mounted upon panels or upon Bristol-boards;
the latter may be first subjected to a glazing or smoothing process and then covered
with an encaustic enamel, or a light varnish, to protect them from the action of
the air.
As regards copies of pictures, they may be mounted upon cloth and the illusion
completed by intercalating a piece of any suitable fabric between them and
subjecting them to a sufficiently strong pressure during a whole night; the said
copies will thus acquire the aspect of an oil-painting on canvas and may be
mounted upon a wooden frame and varnished in the same manner as an oil-
painting.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
The above described improved method or process of coloration, by printing or
impression, of pictures obtained by photography or by processes derived therefrom,
which method or process is based essentially upon the following points, viz :-
First. The printing or impression of the colors upon one or the other face either
of the transparent gelatine film, of proofs obtained with carbon or by photoglyptic
engraving, or of these proofs transferred upon perfectly transparent supports,
or of photographic or phototypic proofs obtained upon paper or other equally
transparent supports.

page_text: Second. The above described method of treating in a cold bath formed of
rectified benzine, resin and linseed oil, in, or about in, the proportions named,
various partially transparent supports, such as vegetable, dioptric or mineral
paper, or vegetable parchment, in order to give to such supports a complete
transparency.
Third. The method of successive printings or impressions by flat tints of the
different colors to be obtained, by means of thin patterns made of opaque
substance, such as metal, cardboard or the like, which have been previously cut
out to the exact outlines taken from a photograph of the picture, of the different
shades to be produced, and which are applied upon a lithographic stone treated
with bichromate of potash to obtain parts representing the exact forms of
the tinted parts and which are then imprinted successively on the proofs suitably
registered and prepared in the manner above indicated.
Fourt. The modification of the method of printing, consisting in operating by
hand, when only a few reproductions are required, by means of the cut-out
patterns above indicated which facilitate the rapid application, by flat tints put
on by means of a brush, of the different colors which it is desired to obtain.
Fifth. The above described method of mounting the colored proofs obtained
as above indicated, upon Bristol-board, wood panels, or cloth, according to the
appearance which it is desired to give to the picture.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventh day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four
W RUB LAKE
(L.S.)