IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Urie, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Photographic Artist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES."
Sealed the 21st April 1854, and dated the 20th February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Urie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th February
1854.
I, JOHN URIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Photographic, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the production of photographic pictures on glass
or.other transparent or translucent plates or surfaces, which pictures have the
effect of standing out in high relief from the apparent image surface. The
pictures are primarily taken in the ordinary manner by the collodion or albumen
process, and the image is developed in the usual way. The back of the glass
or the surface opposite to that on which the image is taken is then coated with

page_text: a black varnish or other pigment, care being taken to confine this reverse
coating to the exact area opposite to or covered by the picture. The picture
is finally mounted in the usual manner, and the result is that the reverse
coating produces the illusory appearance of a bold relief; the added coating
forming a species of back ground; from which the image distant from such
ground by the thickness of the glass or picture plate appears to stand well
forward. Instead of a pigment coating paper or other dark material may be
used as the back for pictures in this way. Indeed any matter which will give
an opaque or partially opaque back ground may be thus employed; and two or
more kinds of reverse coatings may be used, as for example, one dark one for
the reverse of the actual figure, and a lighter one for the general back ground
of the picture; various translucent back grounds for the entire picture may be
produced by means of an acidulous treatment. Thus the picture-back-ground
or the part uncovered by the actual image may be treated with fluoric acid for
the production of various tints to surround the image.
This general system of treatment is obviously applicable to all photographic
processes wherein the image is taken upon a transparent or translucent plate or
surface, whether the collodion, albumen, or other process is used in producing
the image.
By another process the picture is first taken. as: a negative, and from this
negative a positive copy is taken by the aid of the camera. Plaster. of Paris,
paper pulp, or other plastic substance is then poured or deposited upon the
actual positive image surface on the glass, and when hardened or solidified
this deposited substance is detached from the image surface, taking with it the
positive image film. The picture on the plaster of Paris or other holding
surface may then be colored and varnished...Pictures: produced in this way
have very pure and brilliant grounds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Urie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
August 1854.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
URIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Photographic
Artist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her.
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Urie, Her special license that I, the said John Urie, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Urie, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time 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 Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES," upon the condition' (amongst others) that I, the said
John Urie, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,' 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 months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW, KNOW YE, that I, the said John "Urie, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention; and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be. particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
that' is to say:
My said. Invention relates to the production of photographic pictures on
glass or other transparent or translucent plates or surfaces, 'which pictures have
the effect of standing out in high relief from the apparent image surface. The
pictures are primarily taken in the ordinary manner by the collodion or abumen
proċess, and the image is developed in the usual way. The back of the glass
or the surface opposite to that on which the image is taken is then coated with
a black varnish or other pigment; care being taken to confine this reverse
coating to the exact area opposite to or covered by the picture, or that portion
of the picture to which the appearance of relief is to be given. The picture is
finally mounted in the usual manner, and the result is that the reverse coating
produces the illusory appearance of a bold relief; the added coating forming a
species. of back ground, from which the image distant from such ground-by-the
thickness of the glass or picture plate appears to stand well forward; instead
of a pigment coating paper or other dark material may be used as the back for
pictures, in this way. Indeed any matter which will give an opaque or par-
tially opaque back ground may be thus employed; and two or more kinds of
reverse coatings may be used; as for example, one dark one for the reverse of
the actual figure, andta lighter one for the general back ground of the picture,
and in some cases the back ground may be colored and shaded to produce the

page_text: effect of a distant sky or landscape. Various translucent back grounds for the
entire picture may be produced by means of an acidulous treatment. Thus
the picture back ground or the part uncovered by the actual image may be
treated with flouric acid for the production of various tints to surround the
image. When it is wished to give the appearance of different degrees of relief
to various parts of the picture, this is effected by using two or more thicknesses
of glass or other transparent or translucent material, one behind the other, and
by putting the dark reverse coating for one part of the picture at a greater
or less distance from the picture surface than that for another part. This
general system of of treatment is obviously applicable to all photographic pro-
cesses wherein the image is taken upon a transparent or translucent plate or
surface, whether the collodion, albumen, or other process is used in producing
the image.
By another process the picture is first taken as a negative, and from this
negative a positive copy is taken by the aid of the camera. Plaster of Paris,
paper pulp, or other plastic substance is then poured or deposited upon the
actual positive image surface on the glass, and when hardened or solidified this
deposited substance is detached from the image surface, taking with it the
positive image film. The picture on the plaster of Paris or other holding
surface may then be colored and varnished. Pictures produced in this way
have very pure and brilliant grounds.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general systems or modes of producing or treating photographic
pictures, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of producing an appearance of relief in photo-
graphic pictures on glass, or other transparent or translucent material, by
placing a black, opaque, or other back ground on the side of the plate or
material opposite to that on which the picture film is produced, such back
ground being confined to the exact area covered by or opposite to the picture,
or that portion of the picture to which the appearance of relief is to be given,
as herein-before described.

page_text: Third, the application and use in photographic pictures on glass, or other
transparent or translucent material of back grounds coloured, tinted, or shaded,
to suit the various parts of the picture, such back grounds being applied to the
surface of the plate or material which is opposite to that on which the picture
film is produced, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Urie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four..
JOHN URIE. (L.S.)