IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING FRAMES FOR COMBINATION OR CHROMO- TYPE PRINTING
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Talbot Lane at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1878.
JOHN TALBOT LANE, of 5, Hanover Street; Peckham, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING FRAMES FOR COMBINATION OR CHROMO-
TYPE PRINTING."
My improvements consist of a raised ledge at one end and side of a photographic
printing frame, as shown at A in the annexed Drawing, whilst at the opposite end
marked BI secure such masks, disks, or devices as it is desired to have reproduced
in the finished picture, such masks, disks, or devices I secure at the end marked B
by means of a simple spring, but I do not confine myself to the use of a spring as
the object is only the retention of the masks, disks, or devices in their place whilst
in use.
Also I insert in each frame an actinometer by means of which the depth
of printing is regulated, thus rendering each frame independent of every other
frame or actinometer, and in this way each frame carries its own instructions as to
the depth of printing the negative or device in it is to receive. For plain litho-
graphic printing, either in silver or carbon, the frame is used in the usual way
well-known to all photographers, but for combination or chromotype printing
I proceed as follows:-
I cut out the form or device, such as the figure of a portrait from its background,
or an oval or any other shape, the part cut out I call the disk, the part from which
it was cut I call the mask, the mask or disk, or both, may be either opaque or non-
active, or may be transparent, or partially transparent. After cutting out the disk,
I mount it with paste or otherwise on a transparent or partially transparent flexible
medium, such as mineral paper, gelatine, or talc; the flexible medium should be a
little larger than the finished picture is intended to be. I then cut out of paper or
other flexible substance which may be non-actinic an opening, and over this opening
mount the flexible medium carrying the disk; the substance used on which the
flexible medium carrying the mask is mounted should be large enough to be secured
to the frame at B, whilst the disk at its other end would be in its right position

page_text: with respect to the negative. I now refit the disk to the mask, placing one over
the other, so that each shall occupy the position each did before being first separated
from each other, and whilst in this position the one registering perfectly with the
other. I secure one to the other at the margin nearest to the end at which the
united disk and mask will be secured in the printing frame at B, the mask and
disk thus forming as it were two leaves of a book. I use also two or more sets of
masks and disks placed side by side, or end to end, or both in the same frame at
the same time. To print the combination or chromotype picture I place a negative
in the frame, then over it fit the mask, turning the disk back towards the letter B
of frame, laying the disk down flat to be out of the way whilst the mask is being
used; then over the mask and negative register by the ledges at A the sensitive
material used, replace the back of the frame and print as desired, thus opening the
frame, being careful not to disturb the means by which the masks, &c., are secured,
remove the sensitive material, lift out the negative, and in its place put a clean
glass, turn under and backwards the mask, then turn over and forward the disk,
replace the sensitive material, close the frame, and print as desired. It will thus be
seen that figures and backgrounds, letter press or other devices, can be added to or
taken from a negative at pleasure, and at a less cost of time and money than is
usually done.
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