IMPROVEMENTS. IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES.
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS: PATENT to George Heron Hay and David. Syme Hay, both of
Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Photographic
Artists, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES.">
Sealed the 8th February 1856, and dated the 12th December 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left. by the said George Heron Hay and
David Syme Hay at the Office of the Commissioners of- Patents, with
their Petition, on the 12th December 1855.
We, GEORGE HERON HAY and DAVID. SYME HAY, both of. Edinburgh, in
the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Photographic Artists, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN-PHOTOGRAPHIC
PICTURES to be as follows, that is to say :-.
This Invention relates to the preparation and finishing of photographic
pictures of various kinds, in such manner as to produce very superior effects,
combined with important preservative powers and economy of productive cost:
The improvements are applicable under various classes or styles of photography,
but in carrying them out, with reference. to collodionised glass pictures, it is
preferred to adhere to the following routine:-The picture, or photographic
image is. produced on the glass or transparent or translucent plate in the
ordinary manner. The surface of the glass on which the photographic image
is produced, that is to say, the collodion film side of the plate, is then coated

page_text: uniformly with amber, or other pure and clear-varnish or composition. When
this varnish coating is dry, it is treated with a coating of a composition of drying
oil and varnish, or other suitable medium; and whilst this secondary coating
or medium is still moist, the colors necessary for imparting the various tints or
tones required for finishing the picture are worked into the medium coating.
The colors may be applied either in the form of ordinary oil paint or in the
dry condition. Throughout the whole of this treatment the outlines, shadows,
and fine impressions of the original photograph are left uninjured, so that all
the freshness, and beautiful brilliancy of the photographic image are carefully
preserved, additional brilliancy indeed being obtained by the process. The
back grounds and other portions of the picture may be finished up in any
desired style, and the coloring matter is then coated with a varnish or pro-
tective cover. This system of treatment is obviously applicable to collodion
and other photographs of various kinds, the essential object of the Invention
in all cases being the production of pictures which shall closely resemble oil
paintings of the highest class, and be equally as durable, whilst they are
superior to the artist's manual productions, inasmuch as the beauty and minute
detail of the photographic art obviously excels. the work of the most careful
and artistic painter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Heron Hay and Daniel Syme Hay in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 12th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
HERON HAY and DAVID SYME HAY, both of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Photographic Artists, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said George Heron Hay and David Syme Hay, Her special license that
we, the said George Heron Hay and David Syme Hay, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Heron Hay and
David Syme Hay, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any tiine
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said, George Heron Hay and David Syme Hay, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar moutlis next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Heron Hay and David Syme
Hay, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement in writing, that is to say:-
Our said Invention relates to the preparation and finishing of photographic
pictures, or pictures produced by the agency of light, of various kinds, in such
manner as to obtain very superiór effects, combined with important preserva-
tive powers, and economy of productive of cost. The improvements are
applicable under various classes or styles of photography, and may be carried
out in conjunction with the use of various materials for the surface upon
which the photographic picture is taken, or to which it may be transferred.
The Invention consists in colouring, tinting, finishing, or treating such pictures
with oil paints or other moist colours in such a manner, that whilst the outline
and shading produced by the agency of light are retained, the effect is con-
siderably heightened by the addition of colours or tints suited to the subject.'
In carrying out the Invention, with reference, for example, to collodionised
glass-pictures, it is preferred to adhere to the following routine:-The picture
or photographic image is produced on the glass or transparent or translucent
plate in the ordinary manner. The surface of the glass on which the photo-
graphic image is produced, that is to say, the collodion film side of the plate,
is then coated uniformly with amber, or other pure and clear varnish or com-
position. When this varnish coating is dry, it is treated with a coating of a
composition of drying oil and varnish, or other suitable medium; and whilst
this secondary coating or medium is still moist, the colours necessary for
imparting the various tints or tones required for finishing the picture are
worked into the medium coating. The colours may be applied either in the
form of ordinary oil paint, or in the dry condition; or, instead of operating in
this mauner, the colours may be applied without the previous application of the
medium or secondary coating, in which case of course oil or other moist colours
only are to be used. Throughout the whole of this treatment, the outlines,
shadows, and fine impressions of the original photograph are left uninjured, so

page_text: that all the freshness and beautiful brilliancy of the photographic image are
carefully preserved, additional: brilliancy indeed being obtained by the process.
The back grounds and other portions of the picture may be finished up in any
desired style, and the colouring matter. is then coated with a varnish or pro-
tective cover. This system of treatment..is obviously applicable to collodion
and other photographs of various kinds, and it renders such pictures extremely
durable and unliable to injury or decay.. The essential object of the Invention
is in all cases the production of pictures closely resembling oil paintings of the
heighest class, and being equally, as durable, whilst. they are. superior to the
artist's manual productions, inasmuch as the beauty and minute detail of the
photographic art obviously, excels the work of the most careful and artistic
painter.
Having now described and particularly ascertained. the nature of our said
Invention; and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we may observe; in conclusion, that we do not confine or restrict
ourselves to the precise details or arrangements which we have had occasion to
describe or refer to as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of our Invention ; but what
we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim. as the Invention
secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent; is,―
.
First, the system or mode of preparing or finishing photographic pictures;
or pictures taken by the agency of light, by the application of oil colours or
other moist colours, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of preparing or finishing photographic pictures,
or pictures taken by the agency of light, by working dry or moist colours
into a medium previously applied to the photographic picture, whilst such
medium is as yet in a moist or undried condition, as herein-before: described.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Heron Hay and David Syme
Hay, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of
June, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
GEORGE HERON HAY. (L.S.).
DAVID SYME HAY.
(L.S.)