Improvements in and relating to the Coloring of Photographic Prints, Transparencies, and Negatives.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Coloring of Photographic Prints,
Transparencies, and Negatives.
I, CHARLES KLARY of 22 Rue de Beaune, Paris in the Republic of France
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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a method and means for coloring
photographs which differs from other methods in the beauty of the effects which
may be obtained without any previous preparation of the photograph to receive
the colors.
The invention is applicable to photographic prints on paper as well as to trans-
parencies and lantern slides on glass and is also suitable for the retouching of
negatives.
The improved method consists in coloring the photograph, if a paper print, by
the application of colors prepared as hereinafter described to the back of the
photograph so that they penetrate the paper and appear underneath the photo-
graphic film as seen from the face of the picture.
This process, which I have termed "Chromophotophane " does not require any
previous preparation of the usual paper print either for rendering it transparent
or translucid or for removing the paper wholly or partly from the back of
the film.
The colors are applicable to transparencies, lantern slides and negatives, in fact
to any photographic film either on glass, or paper or without, being applied to the
back or front as may be most suitable. It does not interfere with the subsequent
burnishing of paper prints.
The colors are prepared as follows;-Aniline colors are taken and dissolved
either in water or in alcohol, such solutions being made as strong as possible
whether by use of heat or in the cold. It has been found that some of the aniline
colors so prepared will not soak properly into or through the paper as this process
requires and in such cases, which can be found by experiment, it
sufficient to add acetic acid to the alcohol.
necessary and
The number of colors, natural or by mixture which can thus be prepared is
practically without limit and will afford every necessary color for this
The colors so made should be put up in bottles which should be kept tightly
process.
corked.
The vehicle or medium for the employment of these colors is alcohol or a mixture
of alcohol and acetic acid. By use of this medium the artist may reduce any of
the different colors to any state of tenuity that may be necessary to give the
desired tint.
To color a photograph the latter is placed face downwards on a retouching desk
or the like so that it may be viewed by transmitted light and the design on the
face may be sufficiently visible from the back to guide the artist in coloring the
photograph. The colors are laid on in the usual way with a brush or pencil care
being taken not to pass over the outlines. The colors immediately soak through the
texture of the paper and act more as dyes than surface colors. They quickly dry
through evaporation of their solvent. The photograph may be lifted from time to
time to ascertain the tint appearing beneath the film so that the amount of color
used may be made proportionate to the tint desired, a second coating, or several
if needed, being added until the desired depth of color tint is obtained.
Photographs colored in this manner exhibit a delicacy of tint combined with

page_text: photographic clearness unattainable when color is applied to the face of the
photograph.
Negatives may be touched by coloring with the described colors according to
their actinic absorbent capacities and the use of such colors offers to the retoucher
opportunity of delicacy of treatment unattainable by the ordinary process. They
are applied to the face of such negative.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be described I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1) The method of coloring photographic prints on paper consisting in applying
to the back of such prints colors dissolved in a medium adapted to soak through the
paper and appear beneath the photographic film on the face thereof.
2) The method of preparing colors for use in the coloring of photographic
paper prints as described or for the coloring of other photographic prints such
as transparencies, optical slides, or for retouching negatives, consisting in dissolving
aniline colors in water or alcohol or a mixture of alcohol and acetic acid.
3) The method of coloring photographic prints on paper, transparencies, optical
slides or glass or other carrying vehicle consisting in applying to the back of paper
supported films or to the face of glass supported films or to the back or face of
unsupported films, aniline colors dissolved in water or in alcohol or in a mixture of
alcohol and acetic acid, and diluted with a medium composed of alcohol, or of a
mixture of alcohol and acetic acid.
4) The method of retouching negatives consisting in applying to their surface
aniline colors in solution of suitable tenuity and of more or less actinic absorbent
nature substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of Anvil 1909
R. HADDAN,
Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agent for Applicant.