An Improved Process for the Production of Embossed or Bas-relief Photographs.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for the Production of Embossed or Bas-relief
Photographs.
We, IRWIN FARIS, of Wellington, in the Provincial District of Wellington, in
the Colony of New Zealand, Railway Official, and FREDERICK WILLIAM MASON, of
Napier, in the Provincial District of Hawkes Bay, and Colony aforesaid, Photo-
grapher, 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:-
Our invention relates to the production of what are known as embossed or bas-
relief photographs (whether of animate or inanimate objects or both combined)
i.e. photographs in which some parts of the object represented are made to stand
out in relief and others are recessed as required so that the photograph thus treated
presents the appearance of a bas-relief or cameo.
Various processes have from time to time been devised for the production of
"embossed" or
"bas-relief" photographs but these previous processes have
involved the use of skilled labour or of special tools and have thus been expensive
and more or less tedious. Thus according to one such process a block of wood is
provided with a sensitized surface to receive a photographic impression from a
negative of the usual kind. The block is then carved out to varying depths and
corresponding photographic prints backed with cardboard and moistened are placed
face downwards over the mould thus formed. Sponge-rubber is then spread over the
back and the whole is placed in a press which by means of the interposed rubber
forces the print into the mould and compels it to take the shape thereof thus pro-
ducing a counter-relief. The print is kept in the press until dry when the
embossed print may be filled up at the back with plaster or other material and
mounted.
This process involves the use of skilled labour and special tools for carving the
mould and is moreover tedious.
According to another of such processes a reversed sheet of sensitised paper is
placed in contact with an ordinary photographic negative and a reversed image
is thus obtained. This is mounted upon a block of wood and when dry the outline
of that part of the figure to be embossed is traced with a lead pencil and the block
is then cut through with a fret-saw following the traced lines. A finished positive
Di Q77

page_text: print is then made from the negative and mounted upon thin sheet brass
copper zinc or other ductile material. The print is then laid face downwards upon
the reversed image upon the cut block. A pad of thick sheet india-rubber or
wadding is then placed upon the metal back of the positive picture and the whole
is subjected to pressure in a press and the print is thereby partially embossed so
as to assume the general outline of the hole in the cut block. The print is then
removed from the press and the remainder of the embossing is done by hand. Here
also plaster is used as a backing.
This method also involves the use of special tools or appliances and the separate
manipulation by skilled labour of every print to the extent of about half the
amount of the embossing which is necessarily tedious. Moreover it is difficult
to insure the embossed prints being fac-similes.
According to another process an ordinary photographic print is mounted upon
muslin saturated with a solution of shellac and allowed to dry and the whole of the
embossing is done by hand by means of heated irons. The objection as to the
difficulty of getting fac-similes applies in this case also. This process also involves
a tedious manipulation by hand of every photograph to be embossed and skilled
labour must be employed throughout for effecting the embossing.
Now our invention has for its objects to remedy the drawbacks and defects
herein-before referred to and to produce effective "embossed or bas-relief" photo-
graphs in a simple cheap and expeditious manner.
According to our said invention we proceed as follows: We take a piece of suffi-
ciently thin sheet lead or any other suitable sheet metal capable of receiving
and retaining impressions from a stylus or other suitable tracing instrument
(e.g. thin sheet copper will do but we prefer lead to other metals it being cheap
and very ductile) and we place this upon a pad of blotting-paper or other suitable
vielding substance. Upon the said sheet-lead or other metal we place face up-
wards a photographic print which may be fastened to the said sheet-lead or other
metal with gum or glue or otherwise on one edge or several edges of the print.
This print should be of paper sufficiently thin to admit of tracing through it with
facility but not so thin as to be liable to tear under the stylus or other tracing
instrument. Or the said print may be merely placed upon the sheet-lead or other
metal and be secured thereon by drawing-pins or otherwise. The print being
thus fastened or secured to the sheet lead or other metal we trace through the said
print on to the said sheet lead or other metal so as to indent into the latter such
outlines and details as may be necessary using for this purpose a lead pencil or
any suitable stylus or pointed instrument. We then remove the print and with
the said pencil or stylus complete the embossing of the sheet lead or other metal
from behind or indent it from the front or both as may be required until a suitable
bas-relief is produced. In so completing the embossing the said sheet lead or other
metal should be placed face downwards upon a board of sufficient thickness wherein
is cut a hole corresponding to but slightly larger than the outline of the figure to
be embossed and the embossing of such figure may be done above such hole or in
some cases a wooden frame of suitable size and depth will do or a cardboard box
of suitable size and depth turned bottom_upwards and having a hole as described
cut in the bottom thereof may be used. In each case the sheet lead or other metal
may if desired be secured to the board frame or cardboard box by pins or other-
wise or be merely placed thereon and be moved about and reversed as desired.
We then place the bas-relief face upwards upon a rigid flat smooth surface and
pour over or place upon the said bas-relief plaster of Paris (properly mixed with water)
When this has dried and set hard it forms a mould the counterpart of the leaden
or other metal bas-relief which is then removed. Or the leaden or other metal
has-relief may be allowed to remain in the said mould so as to constitute part
thereof. The said mould may either be made "small" by which term we mean
a mould including only the embossed portion of the bas-relief or the intaglio
impression thereof and not the adjacent plane surface but leaving of course a
sufficient margin to give sufficient strength to the mould and to allow for the

page_text: subsequent trimming of the die. (In this case we trim or pare the edges of the
die made in the said mould as herein-after described to the outline of the figure to
be embossed as herein-after described.) Or the said mould may be "large" (by
which term we mean a mould including not only the embossed portion of the
bas-relief or the intaglio impression thereof but also so much of the adjacent plane
surface of the said bas-relief or produced thereby as may be necessary) and thick
by placing the bas-relief face upwards (upon a suitable rigid flat and smooth
surface) within a frame of sufficient length and breadth relatively to the print to
be embossed and of sufficient depth and then filling up the said frame level with its
upper edges with plaster of Paris (properly mixed with water.)
Having thus made a mould we sufficiently soften a piece of gutta-percha in hot
water and with it we fill (or fill and cover) the said mould. When the gutta-
percha has sufficiently hardened it is removed from the said mould and when it has
dried and hardened and has been suitably trimmed (with a knife or other suitable
instrument) it constitutes a die upon which photographic prints corresponding
(as regards subject) with the original print may be embossed.
If the metal bas-relief have been left in the plaster of Paris mould as herein-
before described the said metal bas-relief strengthened by the backing of gutta-
percha may when the said gutta-percha has sufficiently hardened be removed from
the said mould and (having been trimmed if necessary) will together with the said
backing of gutta-percha constitute a die.
If a small" die trimmed to the outline of the photographic figure to be
embossed be required it is only necessary to fill up with the softened gutta-percha the
cavity or intaglio (in the mould from which such die is to be made) representing
such figure, allowing of course a margin for trimming and a sufficient thickness
of gutta-percha. But if a "large" die with a flat surface adjacent to the bas-relief
of such figure be required we press upon the "large" mould made within the frame
aforesaid a sufficient quantity of the softened gutta-percha not merely to fill the
said cavity or intaglio but also to spread over or cover to a sufficient thickness
the entire upper surface of the said mould.
Having thus made a die either "large" or "small" as herein-before described
(i.e. either of gutta-percha alone or of metal backed with gutta-percha) we take a
frame of cardboard or other suitable material and of suitable size (relatively to the
size of the die and of the print to be embossed thereon) and thickness and gum
glue clamp or otherwise affix (face downwards) to or upon the under side of such
frame the edges of the print to be embossed (i.c. in such a way that when the frame
is held with the upper side towards the operator the face of the print to be
embossed is visible within such frame). The object of using this frame is to pre-
vent the print from wrinkling or creasing whilst under the pressure herein-next
referred to. We then place the print face upwards (and still affixed to the frame)
upon the die aforesaid which is supported by a flat smooth rigid surface and then
put upon the print some soft yielding substance (such as a small bag of flour or
of powdered chalk or' some cotton wool or both) interposing tissue
paper or other suitable substance to prevent the said bag or pressing
substance from marking the print. We then subject the whole to pressure in a
suitable press or otherwise so as to force the print on to the die when the said
print assumes the form of the said die and becomes a bas-relief. In some cases
(especially with enamelled prints) we find it advantageous before pressing the
print as aforesaid to apply pressure with the fingers to those portions of the
print which lie or rest upon the most prominent portions of the die
(interposing tissue paper or other suitable substance between the fingers and the
said print) the object being to prevent the cracking of the coating or the paper of
the said print.
In some cases it may be advisable to add additional sharpness to the outline of
the photographic bas-relief by pressing or tracing around the said outline with
a suitable stylus or other suitable instrument or with the fingers, tissue paper or
other suitable material being interposed between the said photographic bas-relief
and the said stylus or other instrument or fingers.

page_text: In some cases (e.g. in the case of a photograph of a person with a very pro-
minent nose) it is advisable so to manipulate the bag of flour or other pressing
substance that there shall be a less thickness over the portions of the print which
lie or rest upon the most prominent portions of the die which portions of the print
will thus be subjected to only the amount of pressure necessary to bring them
into relief. The photographic bas-relief thus produced is then cut out or otherwise
removed from the frame and is trimmed and mounted in any usual manner.
great number of fac-simile bas-relief photographs in thus obtainable with one die
with a minimum of labour and time."
A
When desirable the bas-relief photographs may before being mounted be filled
in or stiffened at the back with bees wax (which sets at once) or other suitable
material.
The foregoing process is that which we prefer but it may be modified in many
ways.
Thus for example instead of using a die as herein-described the said die may be
dispensed with and the photographic prints (which in this case should be on thick
strong paper) may be embossed in a mould made (direct from the metal bas-relief
as herein-before described with reference to the "large" mould) either of plaster
of Paris (mixed with water) or of gutta-percha. When plaster of Paris is used for
making the mould the said mould must be made of sufficient thickness to withstand
the requisite pressure but when gutta-percha is used for making the mould the
said mould may be made considerably thinner than when plaster of Paris is used.
In making a mould of gutta-percha the metal bas-relief is placed face upwards
(upon a suitable rigid flat and smooth surface) within a frame of sufficient length
and breadth relatively to the print to be embossed and of sufficient depth which
frame is then filled up level with its upper edges with softened or melted gutta-
percha. If the gutta-percha used for making the mould be merely softened and
pressed upon the leaden or other metal bas-relief the latter should first be filled
in and strengthened at the back with plaster of Paris (mixed with water) or with
other suitable supporting material. In doing this the said bas-relief should not be
placed face downwards upon any hard surface lest the weight of the backing
before it has set hard should flatten the prominent parts of the said bas-relief
against such surface. To prevent this the said bas-relief if of sufficiently small size
should be supported by being pinned or otherwise affixed or secured at its edges to
a frame of sufficient depth. If the metal bas-relief be a larger one it should be
placed face downwards upon a board of sufficient thickness wherein is cut a hole
corresponding in form to but slightly larger than the outline of the embossed
portion of the said bas-relief which portion will enter the said hole the said bas-
relief being if necessary affixed or secured to the said board by pins or otherwise.
The object of using the board herein-before last referred to is to prevent the said
metal bas-relief from "bellying" or bulging under the weight of the backing.
Or cotton wool may if necessary be placed in various suitable positions within the
hole in the said board and beneath the metal bas-relief for the same purpose as
herein-before last stated. But if the gutta-percha is to be melted it may be held
in any suitable flame and be dropped upon the leaden or other metal bas-relief
which in this case will not require the backing of plaster of Paris.
In making a mould of softened gutta-percha the plaster of Paris die herein-
after described may be substituted for the aforesaid metal bas-relief the advantage
of this being that any roughnesses or other imperfections in or on the said die
may be remedied as herein-after described and extra detail and relief may be added
thereto by carving and scraping and additional depth and detail will thus be given
to the mould made therefrom.
When the mould is made of plaster of Paris or of melted gutta-percha the
metal bas-relief may either be removed therefrom or be allowed to remain therein
so as to form a portion of the said mould. When the mould is made of plaster
of Paris a die (if desired) may be made therefrom with softened gutta-percha
whether the metal bas-relief be allowed to remain in the mould or not. But if it

page_text: be desired to make a die from the mould made of melted gutta-percha the metal
bas-relief should be allowed to remain in the said mould to receive the melted
or softened gutta-percha of which the die is to be made.
The mould having been thus made the bas-relief photograph is obtained by
placing the photographic print face downwards upon such mould placing above
the print a soft yielding substance and subjecting the whole to pressure as herein-
before described with reference to embossing on a die tissue paper being (when
desirable) interposed between the print and the mould. When embossing in a
mould if the print do not take a satisfactory impression of the deeper portions
of the mould the portions of the said print which require to be accentuated may
be pressed into the corresponding depressions in the mould by means of a suitable
stylus or with the fingers.
And instead of making a mould as aforesaid and then making the die therefrom
the die may be made direct from the leaden or other metal bas-relief by filling
in at the back the embossed portion or intaglio thereof with a sufficient thickness
of melted gutta-percha (leaving of course a sufficient margin for trimming) which
when removed allowed to harden and trimmed will constitute the die. Or the
gutta-percha may be left in the metal bas-relief so as to constitute therewith the
die which may when sufficiently hard be trimmed as necessary.
Or the said gutta-percha die may be made "large" i.e. of such size as not merely
to fill the said intaglio but also to cover so much of the flat surface adjacent to
the latter as to form a die of the size required relatively to that of the print to be
embossed.
In this case also the metal bas-relief may either be removed from the said die
or be allowed to remain thereon so as to constitute a part thereof. In either case
the said die may be trimmed as required.
In making the gutta-percha die in any of the ways herein-before last described
the same precautions against the flattening and "bellying" or bulging of the
metal bas-relief should be observed as those herein-before described with reference
to the filling in and strengthening (at the back) of the metal bas-relief with plaster
of Paris when making a mould of softened gutta-percha..
Plaster of Paris may be used to make a "large" die in which case it
should be cast in al frame as herein-before described with reference
to making the "large" mould but in this case the said frame should be provided
with a loose bottom of sufficient thickness having cut therein a hole of a shape
corresponding to but slightly larger than the outline of the embossed portion of the
bas-relief which will enter the said hole the object of this being to prevent the
projecting portions of the said bas-relief from becoming flattened against the
surface upon which the frame rests and the same precautions against "bellying
or bulging should be taken as described with reference to the filling in and
strengthening (at the back) of the metal bas-relief with plaster of Paris when
making a mould of softened gutta-percha. In this case also the metal bas-relief
may either be left upon the die and thus constitute a part thereof or be removed
therefrom.
"
We prefer however to make a plaster of Paris mould and a gutta-percha die there-
form as herein-before first specified by us for the reasons firstly that the said mould
may readily be deepened by carving and scraping so as to give greater relief to the die
made therefrom and extra detail may be added to the said mould by carving and
scraping secondly that should the said die by any means become injured another
can be made from the plaster of Paris mould whereas the metal bas-relief will
seldom admit of a good second die being made therefrom and thirdly that a number
of dies may be made from the said plaster of Paris mould so that a corresponding
number of operators may work at the same time at the embossing of the corre-
sponding photographic prints.
Powdered plumbago may in many cases be applied with advantage to the inner
sides and ends of the frame aforesaid to prevent the mould or die formed therein
from adhering thereto (especially if the frame be a metallic one) but we prefer to

page_text: place slips of paper of suitable size against such inner sides and ends the said
mould or die adhering to the paper and being removed therewith from the said
frame.
If any roughnesses or other imperfections occur on or in the gutta-percha or
plaster of Paris moulds or dies (ie. those whereof the metal bas-relief does not
constitute a part) made respectively by any of the methods herein-before described
as constituting our process such roughnesses or other imperfections may be readily
removed or rectified by the insertion (in the case of air-bubbles small holes or other
improper depressions or indentations) of a small quantity of the material used in the
making of the said mould or die (or with other suitable material) or (in the case of
unnecessary relief) by depressing cutting or scraping away a portion of the material.
We therefor prefer (when practicable) to remove the metal bas-relief from the
mould or die. Or in the case of a large" mould made in any of the ways
herein-before described improper indentations or depressions in the flat surface
adjacent to the intaglio in the said mould may in many cases be remedied (and
additional depth given to the said intaglio) by affixing thereon a sheet of paper
of suitable size and thickness wherein is cut a hole corresponding with the outline
of such intaglio. Or in the case of a "large" die made in any of the ways herein-
before described improper indentations or depressions in the flat surface adjacent to
the outline of the raised figure thereon may in many cases be remedied (and less
relief given to the embossing portion of such die) by affixing to the said flat surface
of such die a sheet of paper of suitable size and thickness wherein is cut a hole
corresponding to the outline of the raised figure upon such die. In either case
the said sheet of paper may first be embossed in the said mould or upon the said
die as herein-before described with reference to the embossing of photographic
prints as a guide to cutting the said hole in the said paper.
This direction is not intended to apply to cases where it is wished to make a die
from the mould or a mould from the die but only to those cases where the mould
or die is to be used for embossing photographic prints therein or thereon
respectively.
When a frame is used for making therein a mould or die as herein-before
described the sides and ends of such frame should be detachable from each other
(the sides may be held to the ends by means of screws) to facilitate the separation
of the said frame from the mould or die made therein or the said frame may be
made of sufficiently strong cardboard and as much as necessary thereof be torn
from the said mould or die made therein (a sufficiently strong cardboard box of
suitable size and depth will do the bottom thereof being removed when necessary);
When the term softened" is used in connection with gutta-percha we intend
it to mean sufficiently softened in hot water and when the term "melted" is used
in connection with gutta-percha we intend it to mean melted in a flame and
dropped as herein-before described with reference to making a mould of melted
gutta-percha.
+
In order to provide for the proper registering of the photographic print to
be embossed with the die on which the said print is to be embossed we proceed
as follows:-
:-
We take care in the first place to have all the photographic prints (of each series)
of equal size and so printed that the figure or figures is or are in the same position
on each print. This is done by means of boundary lines upon the negative. We
then take a print and cut out neatly the eyes and the outline of the nose and such
other portions as may be desirable (this is in the case of portraits. Landscapes
and other photographs than portraits may have some of their salient portions
thus cut out). We place the said print in or affix it to a cardboard or other frame
as herein-before described. We then mark upon the said frame the boundary
of the print. We then take a piece of paper cardboard wood or other suitable
material somewhat larger all around than the frame and at or about the centre
of such paper or cardboard (or as nearly as can be judged the proper place) we fix
the die ("large" or "small") face upwards by means of glue or otherwise. We

page_text: then place the print (still affixed to the frame) upon the said die in such a position
that the eyeholes cut therein as aforesaid (or other cut out portions) shall be
exactly above the eyes or other corresponding portions of the die. We then mark
on or fix pins or pegs in the supporting cardboard upon which the die rests at at
least two sides of the frame so that when the cardboard frame has been removed
and the cut-out print has been replaced by the photographic print to be embossed
the said frame when placed with two of its edges bearing against the said pins or
pegs registering with the said marks will bring the said print into the exact
position relatively to the die for the proper embossing of the said print by the
said die.
The above system will answer for the mould printing process with the exception
that the cardboard frame is dispensed with the cut-print being placed face down-
wards upon the mould the cut-out portions of the said print being exactly above
the corresponding portions of the said mould. The boundary of the said print
is then marked upon the mould the boundary lines thus drawn upon the said
mould serving as a register for the photographic prints to be embossed.
We wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details
horein-before described as they may be modified without departing from the
nature of our invention.
We wish it also to be understood that we make no claim to the principle of
producing a series of embossed or bas-relief photographs from a flat original
photograph by pressing photographic prints to be embossed into a mould irre-
spective of our improved process for making such mould. Nor do we claim per se
the use of the bag of flour or chalk nor the use of the cotton-wool herein-before
referred to as a pressing substance or medium in the process of producing embossed
or bas-relief photographs.
And although we have described as a practicable working detail the backing of
the embossed or bas-relief photographs with a stiffening material or substance we
make no claim to so backing the said photographs.
And we make no claim per se to the use of a board or frame-bottom or box-
bottom having cut therein (respectively) a hole corresponding to the outline of the
metal bas-relief (or of the figure to be embossed) these being merely used as inci-
dental to our process and not for the purpose of partially embossing photographic
prints therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim as our said invention is:-
Firstly. The improved process herein-before described for the production of
embossed or bas-relief photographs that is to say preparing a thin sheet-metal bas-
relief from a photographic print forming upon such bas-relief a mould of plaster of
Paris forming in such mould a die of gutta-percha and impressing upon this die
the photographic prints to be embossed all essentially as herein-before described.
Secondly. The modification herein-before described in which we dispense with
the mould aforesaid and make a die direct from the leaden or other metal bas-relief
essentially as herein-before described and the use of such die in the production
of embossed or bas-relief photographs essentially as herein-before described.
Thirdly. The modification herein-before described in which we fill in the intaglio
at the back of or fill cover and strengthen as herein-before described the back of the
aforesaid leaden or other metal bas-relief with gutta-percha or plaster of Paris so
that the said bas-relief strengthened with the backing thus formed may constitute
a die to be used in the production of embossed or bas-relief photographs all
essentially as herein-before described.
Fourthly. The use of dies made in any of the ways hereinbefore described for
the purpose of embossing photographic prints.
Fifthly. The use of "large" moulds in any of the ways herein-before described
for the purpose of embossing photographic prints.

page_text: Sixthly. The modification herein-before described in which we cover the face
of the aforesaid metal bas-relief with gutta-percha or plaster of Paris so that the
said metal bas-relief thus strengthened may with the said facing material consti-
tute a mould wherefrom dies may be made or wherein photographic prints may be
embossed all essentially as herein-before described.
Seventhly. The use as herein-before described of sheet lead copper or other
suitable ductile metal in or for the manufacture of moulds or of dies to be used
respectively in embossing photographic prints.
Dated this First day of March 1898.