A New or Improved Process for the Production of Permanently Coloured Effects with Photographs.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
A New or Improved Process for the Production of Permanently
Coloured Effects with Photographs.
I, GEORGE JOSEPH SERSHALL of 52, Aston Lane, Perry Barr, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved process for the production of
permanently coloured effects with photographs, and has for its object the ultimate
production of a photograph which shall be perfectly permanent as regard its colour,
present an unspotted ivory-like glossy surface, and shall also be unbreakable.
I accomplish these objects by taking advantage of the well-known transparency
and smoothness of celluloid and, by printing the photograph, on which the coloured
effects are to be ultimately produced, on to a plate consisting wholly of celluloid,
and by means of an additional celluloid plate placed at the back of this I am
enabled, by the transparency of these combined plates, to paint the photograph
through on to the latter, and so produce as a whole a coloured photograph which
will possess all the advantages before enumerated.
In carrying my invention into effect 1 print the photograph, which is to be
ultimately coloured, on to a plate consisting wholly of celluloid of any convenient
size and thickness, and this can be accomplished by any known suitable photographic
process, treating the celluloid plate in exactly the same manner as when printing
or developing on to paper.
Having now obtained a print of the photograph on the said celluloid plate, due
care having been taken in its development, I now apply to the back of the same
another clean celluloid plate of the same size, and fix the same together by any
suitable means in such a manner that they shall not slip during the operation of
painting or afterwards.
The fastened-together transparent plates are now placed in a suitable frame and,
by the transparent nature of the same, I am enabled to paint the photograph
through on to the back of the said clean plate with great accuracy and effect, the
glossy surface of the celluloid lending itself greatly to the operation.
When the paint has dried on the back of the celluloid plate, as aforesaid, I
apply a suitable backing of paint or varnish to the same, and the coloured
photograph in its entirety is then finished, and can be framed in any suitable
manner and with any suitable material; the finished article resembling an oil painting
in appearance, but with a beautiful smooth and glossy surface; the colours in the
same being permanent, and the coloured photograph itself unbreakable.
Instead of using celluloid I may use any other transparent substance such, for
instance, as ivory, gelatine, or talc, and I may treat the same in any special manner
according to their requirements. I may also vary the thickness of the celluloid
plates in their relation to each other as may be desirable.
I preferably use oil colours in producing my coloured effects with photo-
graphs, as berein before described, but I do not limit myself to these particular
colours.
3000

page_text: A New or Improved Process for the Production of Permanently
Coloured Effects with Photographs.
I, GEORGE JOSEPH SERSHALL of 52, Aston Lane, Perry Barr, Birmingham,.
in the County of Warwick, Artist, 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 :-
This invention pertains to coloured photographs or photographs with coloured
effects, and consists in certain improvements in their construction and production
which render them permanent as regards their tone and colour, more accurate and
life-like in the portrayal of the subject set forth, unbreakable, and in outward
appearance glossy and smooth. The ultimate coloured photograph produced
according to this invention in many respects has the appearance of an entire
work of art, whereas its cost of production is only very small in comparison with
a life study.
built
A photograph with coloured effects or a coloured photograph constructed or
up according to this invention consists chiefly of two transparent plates of
celluloid, gelatine, ivory, tale, or other suitable material of a like nature, fixed face
to face or one upon the other at a certain stage in the process of producing the
coloured picture, the one to constitute the front thereto and the other the back.
These two transparencies carry upon their surfaces sections or parts of the
resultant picture, the one forming the front thereof having developed upon it the
photographic print or film, and the other, which constitutes the back, the colouring
matter for giving the coloured effect, and when the same are put together during
the process of working and their surfaces developed, the coloured parts of the back
blend with the photographic positive upon the front and form a beautifully finished
portrait.
In the finished picture the position of the photographic film or print is between
the two transparencies, so that it is protected from moisture, scratchings, and
atmospheric action, and will not loose its tone or fade.
The process of production and the construction or building up of the coloured
photograph according to this invention will be hereinafter described in con-
junction with a sheet of drawings, the sizes of the parts therein being exaggerated
for the purpose of illustration.
In the said sheet Fig. 1 shows a section of a coloured photograph con-
structed according to this invention enclosed within a frame and Figs. 2, 3, 4,
and 5 represent sections of parts of the same during the process of production.
In carrying the invention into effect a clean transparent thin celluloid plate a,
Fig. 2, of any suitable dimensions is first taken, and upon one of its faces a² is
developed a photographic print or film a³ of the subject to be ultimately set forth;
a section of the said plate at this stage being shown by Fig. 3. Any well known
photographic transfer process may be used for printing the image upon the
celluloid plate, the said image being laid down thereon reversed or left-handed.
Another clean thin plate of celluloid a' of any suitable size is now placed with
one of its sides face to face with that side of the first named plate having upon it
the photographic film or print, and the same are fixed together by suitable means
in such a manner that they shall be perfectly rigid one to the other. A section at
this stage is shown in Fig. 4; the means of connection of the two plates shown
being soft metal rivets a. Thus so far in the process the transparency is built up
of two fixed together celluloid plates a, a, between the faces a, a, of which is a
photographic print or film'a of the subject to be coloured. This transparency,

page_text: as shown in Fig. 4, has now to be coloured upon the outer face a' of the plate a*,
and this is accomplished, as shown at as, through the transparent nature of the
celluloid, the same admitting sufficient light therethrough to enable the photograph
to be painted through onto the said surface with great accuracy and effect; the
affinity of the surface a', as aforesaid, for the colours helping greatly in the
operation. In speaking of the photograph as being painted through on to
the back a' of the plate a it does not mean of necessity the whole of the same,
as only parts may be coloured to set forth the different point, but sufficient to
blend with the photographic print and portray a life-like and accurate representation.
of a photograph with colour.
To the painted surface a' of the back transparent plate a* is applied a coating
of varnish, or its equivalent, which completes the production of the coloured
photograph, after which the same can be framed in any suitable manner as shown
in Fig. 1.
The thickness of the celluloid plates may vary in relation to each other to effect.
a different shade or tint in the ultimate product, and oil colours are preferably used
to give the effects, (being much deeper in their tone, and having for their applica-
tion such a accommodating surface) but water colours may in some instances be
more appropriate, in which case the face a' of the transparency a¹ to receive same
may be, if necessary, prepared.
Glass is not intended to be in any way used as the transparent material of which
the plates are constructed, as this material is well known as a transparency for
photographic purposes, and would not give the results sought to be attained by
this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that, what I
claim is :-
First. A coloured photograph or a photograph with coloured effects built up of
two independent but fixed together transparent plates of celluloid, gelatine, ivory,
talc, or other material of a like nature, the one to form the front to the picture.
and carry the photographic transfer or film, and the other to constitute the back to.
the picture and carry upon it the colouring matter for giving the effects, substan-
stantially as described and set forth.
Second. Constructing a coloured photograph or a photograph with coloured
effects of two transparent plates of celluloid, gelatine, talc, or the like, a, a,
developed with a photographic print or film a, and colouring matter as for giving
the effect, and permanently fixed together face to face in such a manner that the-
said print or film is confined and protected between the said faces, substantially as
described and set forth with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.
Third. In the production of a coloured photograph upon celluloid or the like,
as described, the use at a certain stage in the same of an additional clean trans-
parent plate at to form a backing to the picture and a medium for giving the
coloured effects by painting through, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourth. The general arrangement and combination of the parts a, a, a³, a³,.
and a, as set forth.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also Liverpool, London, and Manchester, Agents for the Applicant..