IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tilley, of Stafford, Photographer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES AND IN
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tilley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th February 1875.
I, WILLIAM TILLEY, of Stafford, Photographer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES
AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS,"
to be as follows :-
:-
My Invention has for its object the production of what are called
combination photographs, whether negatives or positives, that is,
negatives or positives in which the sitter or principal object is photo-
graphed in combination with any required background, the portrait and
background being produced without the rigid line separating the
different parts of a combination photograph as ordinarily produced.
-

page_text: My Invention also consists in producing photographic enlargements
from combined negatives; and further, in apparatus to be employed in
carrying the said processes into effect.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the production of a portrait
in combination with a background :-I take a photograph of the sitter
in the usual way, excepting that the background behind the sitter is
black or very dark. As the background radiates no light the picture
produced in the camera obscura is that of the sitter only, the parts of
the sensitive plate surrounding the image of the sitter being left unim-
pressed and capable of receiving any required luminous impression. In
order to produce the required background to the image of the sitter
already impressed on the plate I take a positive background on glass and
place it as close as is convenient to the sensitive plate. The sitter still
retaining his position, I mask or shut out by means of curtains, or
otherwise, the whole or as much as is practicable of the light falling on
the sitter, and a white or light background is placed behind him. The
light radiating from the white background and received by the lens in
the camera obscura is thrown upon the positive background photograph-
and passes through it on to the sensitive surface with which it is nearly
in contact. A negative impression of the said background is thus
produced around the image of the sitter, the said background producing
no impression upon the impression upon the image of the sitter already
on the sensitive plate in consequence of the sitter being no longer illumi-
nated. The sensitive plate after having been thus exposed is developed,
treated, and printed from in the usual manner.
When I take a positive photograph direct in the camera I employ
a negative photographic background; and when I take a negative
photograph direct in the camera I employ a positive photographic
background.
The apparatus by which I produce the combination photograph is
constructed as follows:-In the ordinary dark slide of the camera, and
between the plane in which the sensitive surface on which the photo-
graph is formed and the sliding shutter of the dark slide, I place a light
hinged frame, the inner face of which when shut down is parallel with
and very close to the sensitive surface, but when the said frame is
opened into a position at right angles to that described lies nearly'
parallel on the side of the camera. By means of a winch or handle on

page_text: the top of the dark slide the frame in question can be brought into
either of the positions described. The said frame supports an inner
frame or carrier capable of swivelling slightly therein, and the said inner
frame or carrier contains the background photograph. In using the
apparatus the sitter is illuminated and has a black background behind
him, the frame carrying the background photograph being turned aside,
so as to allow the light from the lens to fall direct on to the sensitive
surface. When the image of the sitter has been sufficiently impressed
he is thrown into darkness and a white background put behind him,
and the photographic background in the hinged frame and carrier is
turned down upon and brought almost in contact with the sensitive
surface. The photographic background thereby becomes impressed on
all parts of the plate not covered by the sitter. The hinged frame
carrying the photographic background may be jointed to the side of the
camera instead of being carried by the dark slide, but I prefer to combine
it with the dark slide.
For enlargements, as well as for combination printing without
enlargement, a separate mask and negative produced in the following
way may be employed.
The arrangement of curtains for making the figure dark, and also the
white background herein-before referred to, are used. On one plate I
take the portrait with a white background, and on another plate I take
a mask, that is, having darkened the sitter I take another picture. Both
pictures may be taken on a plate of the required size, which is afterwards
divided. From the mask so taken I obtain by contact printing a reverse
mask. This reverse mask has a transparent background, with a dark
portion having the figure of the sitter. The portrait and the reverse
mask are fixed respectively to the two parts of a double or hinged dark
slide, having holes in each hinged part or half somewhat larger than the
plates of the portrait and mask. The portrait plate may be fixed in the
dark slide itself, while the mask is carried by a carrier capable of being
adjusted on the slide and fixed by means of screws and screw nuts in
any required position at the back of the other half of the double dark
slide.
Ru means of remister ning the two nants of the clide our made to close

page_text: carrying the mask, while that carrying the portrait negative is copied
on an enlarged scale on the sensitive surface. The other part of the
slide carrying the mask being raised, and that carrying the portrait being
depressed, the background to be produced is placed as near as may be
in contact with the sensitive surface, and the mask being illuminated
the light radiated therefrom is directed by the lens through the super-
posed background, and the said background is printed, the mask
preventing any printing upon the portrait already impressed on the
plate. In this way an enlarged combination portrait to print from is
produced on the sensitive surface. Or an enlarged background from a
small view or vignette may be obtained by placing the view or vignette
in the dark slide with its varnished side presented to the varnished side
of the mask, and exposing the same to light, the portrait and back-
ground being enlarged together. The portrait and mask may be used
for combination printing without enlargement by photographing any
background on the mask glass and printing on the prepared surface by
separate operations, the mask being carefully adjusted to the prepared
surface.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Tilley in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TILLEY, of Stafford, Photographer, 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 One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Tilley, Her
special license, that I, the said William Tilley, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Tilley,
my executors, administrators, and 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

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN
CONNECTION WITH THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Tilley, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their 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 months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Tilley, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention has for its object the production of what are called com-
bination photographs, whether negatives or positives, in which the sitter
or principal object is photographed in combination with any required
background, the portrait and background being produced without the
rigid line separating the different parts of a combination photograph as
ordinarily produced.
My Invention also consists in producing photographic enlargements
from combined negatives, and further in apparatus to be employed in
carrying the said processes into effect.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the production of a portrait
in combination with a background. I take a photograph of the sitter in
the usual way except that the background behind the sitter is black or
dark. As the background radiates no light the picture produced in the
camera obscura is that of the sitter only, the parts of the sensitive plate
surrounding the image of the sitter being left unimpressed and capable
of subsequently receiving any required luminous impression. In order
to produce the required background to the image of the sitter already
impressed on the plate I take a positive background on glass and
place it as close as is convenient to the sensitive plate. The sitter still
retaining his position, I mask or shut out by means of curtains, arranged
and worked preferably as herein-after described, the whole or as much as
is practicable of the light falling on the sitter, and a white or light back-
ground is placed behind him. The light radiating from the white
background and received by the lens in the camera obscura is thrown

page_text: upon the positive background photograph, and passes through it on to
the sensitive surface, with which it is nearly in contact. A negative
impression of the said background is thus produced around the image of
the sitter, the said background producing no impression upon the image
of the sitter already on the sensitive plate in consequence of the sitter
being no longer illuminated. The sensitive plate after having been
thus exposed is developed, treated, and printed from in the usual
manner.
Whether a positive or negative be taken in the camera a positive
photographic background is employed.
The apparatus by which I produce the combination photograph is con-
structed as follows:-In the ordinary dark slide of the camera, and
between the plane in which the sensitive surface on which the photograph
is formed and the sliding shutters of the dark slide I place a light hinged
frame, the inner face of which when shut down or turned aside is
parallel and very close to the sensitive surface, but when the said frame
is opened into a position at right angles to that described lies nearly
parallel on the side of the camera. By means of a winch or handle on
the top of the dark slide the frame in question can be brought into
either of the positions described. The said frame supports an inner
frame or carrier capable of swivelling slightly therein, and the said inner
frame or carrier contains the background photograph. In using the
apparatus the sitter is illuminated, and has a black background behind
him, the frame carrying the background photograph being turned aside
so as to allow the light from the lens to fall direct on the sensitive
surface. When the image of the sitter has been sufficiently impressed
he is thrown into darkness and a white background put behind him,
and the photographic background in the hinged frame and carrier is
turned down upon and brought almost in contact with the sensitive
surface. The photographic background thereby becomes impressed
on all parts of the plate not covered by the sitter. The hinged frame
carrying the photographic background may be jointed to the side of the
camera instead of being carried by the dark slide but I prefer to combine
it with the dark slide.
For enlargements as well as for combination printing without enlarge-
ment, a separate mask and negative produced in the following way may
be employed-
The arrangement of curtains for making the figure dark, and also the

page_text: white background herein-before referred to are used. On one plate I
take the portrait with a white background, and on another plate I take
a mask, that is, having darkened the sitter I take another picture. Both
pictures may be taken on a plate of the required size which is afterwards
divided. From the mask so taken I obtain by contact printing a reverse
mask. This reverse mask has a transparent background with a dark
portion having the figure of the sitter. The portrait and the reverse
mask are fixed respectively to the two parts of a double or hinged box
having holes in each hinged part or half somewhat larger than the plates
of the portrait and mask. The portrait plate may be fixed in the box
itself, while the mask is carried by a carrier capable of being adjusted
on the box and fixed by means of screws and screw nuts in any required
position at the back of the other half of the double or hinged box.
By means of register pins the two parts of the box are made to close
accurately upon one another. The double or hinged box being fixed
in front of the enlarging lens, one part of the box is turned down or
aside, that for example carrying the mask, while that carrying the
portrait negative is copied on an enlarged scale on the sensitive surface.
The other part of the box carrying the mask being raised or brought
opposite the lens, and that carrying the portrait being turned down or
aside, the background to be produced is placed as near as may be in
contact with the sensitive surface, and the mask being illuminated the
light radiated therefrom is directed by the lens through the superposed
background, and the said background is printed, the mask preventing
any printing upon the portrait already impressed on the plate. In this
way an enlarged combination portrait to print from is produced on the
sensitive surface. Or an enlarged background from a small view or
vignette may be obtained by placing the view or vignette in the hinged
box with its varnished side presented to the varnished side of the mask
and exposing the same to light, the portrait and background being
enlarged together. The portrait and mask may be used for combination
printing without enlargement by photographing any background on the
mask glass, and printing on the prepared surface by separate operations,
the mask being carefully adjusted to the prepared surface.
I prefer to exclude or shut off the light from the sitter when necessary
by means of a curtain or curtains arranged and worked in the following
manner: I fix three horizontal parallel iron rods on the same level,
the said rods extending from the top of the background to the part of

page_text: the studio where the camera is situated. The two outer rods are fixed
respectively at the top corners of the background, and the other rod
midway between them. Over these rods a long black curtain is thrown,
the middle part of which rests on the three rods described, the parts on
either side the middle banging down to the floor of the studio. When t
this curtain is by a sliding motion drawn over the sitter, all or nearly all
the top and side light is excluded or shut off, and the figure is conse-
quently darkened and produces no impression on the sensitive plate.
When the curtain is drawn from over the top and from the sides of the
sitter towards the camera obscura the figure is illuminated.
1
The required motions of the curtain may be effected by cords passing
over pulleys, the ends of the cords hanging down sufficiently near the
camera obscura to enable the operator to give them the required
motions.
In order to facilitate the motions of the curtains the part overhead 1
may be supported upon one or more cross strips of wood sliding on the
three rods described, the actuating cords being connected to the ends of
these strips of wood.
When the portrait taken is a full length one, that is, includes the feet
of the sitter and the floor of the studio, the arrangements herein-before
described with reference to the dark and light backgrounds should be
extended to that part of the floor of the studio which will be included
in the photograph taken. For this purpose I place a black cloth or
other dark material on the floor of the studio for the person to stand
upon when the photograph with a black background is being taken, and
when I obtain an impression of the photographic background in the
slide of the camera I place white calico or other light material on the
floor for the purpose of radiating sufficient light to impress the fore-
ground on the sensitive plate, which in this case forms part of the
photograph in the slide, and which I have herein-before called the pho- a
tographic background. As this has to be done without disturbing the
sitter, the calico or other material employed is in several pieces, so that
it can be conveniently arranged around the sitter. The lower ends of
the dark curtains require to be looped up a short distance so as to allow
sufficient light to pass under them to illuminate the white material on
the floor. By these arrangements a photographic background may be
employed which includes, besides a background proper, the picture of a
floor or foreground extending in front and at the sides of the sitter.

page_text: I will now describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the apparatus which I use in producing the combination photographs
described.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation, and Figure 2 in transverse
vertical section an ordinary dark slide of a camera provided with appa-
ratus constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the slide with the shutter
raised, and exhibits the shape of the hinged frame and carrier pivotted
to it; Figure 4 is a plan of the slide and parts thereof; and Figure 5
is a horizontal section of the same; Figure 6 is a back elevation of
the slide; and Figure 7 an edge view of the same with the hinged back
raised.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, and 6.
a is the frame or ordinary dark slide; b, the sliding shutter; and c,
the hinged back; d is the sensitive plate immediately behind the hinged
back c. Inside the slide and between the back cand the sensitive plate d
is a hinged frame e hinged at f to one of the vertical sides of the dark
slide a.
The shape of the hinged frame e is best seen in the front eleva-
tion, Figure 3. The face of the frame e when turned inwards is parallel
to and nearly touches the sensitive plate d, as illustrated in the Drawing,
but when the said frame e is opened into the position indicated in
dotted lines in Figures 2 and 5 it is nearly parallel to the side of the
camera. The hinged frame e supports an inner frame or carrier g, in
which the background photograph i is contained. This carrier g is
pivotted to the hinged frame at h, h, so that the said carrier is capable
of swivelling slightly in the hinged frame e. The hinged frame e sup-
porting the carrier 9 is brought into either the position represented or
that indicated in dotted lines by means of a winch or handle on the
top of the slide, the end of the arm of the said winch working in a
loop on the top of the hinged frame e.
l
Passing around the winch i
and fixed to the top of the slide is an elastic band or spring k, by the
action of which the hinged frame e is held firmly, either in its closed
position or open position. By means of the swivelling movement which
the carrier 9 is capable of, the background photograph i in the said
carrier is capable of adjusting itself to the surface of the sensitive plate d
so as to bring the former into focus with the latter.

page_text: When the hinged frame e is turned upon the sensitive plate d the
background photograph in the swivelling carrier is prevented from
coming into contact with the sensitive plate by three or other number of
silver points or pins m, m, on the inner side of the said carrier g. The
background photograph is fixed on the surface of the carrier by putty or
otherwise. I use a series of carriers similar to that marked g to contain
different background photographs. A carrier is readily removed from
the hinged frame e and another carrier holding a different background
photograph substituted for it by removing and replacing the pivots or
pins h, h, on which the carrier swivels. The background photograph is
fixed in an inverted position in the carrier g.
In using this apparatus, the sitter having been illuminated and
having a black background behind him as herein-before described, the
sensitive plate is placed in the dark slide a, and the latter placed in the
camera. The sliding shutter b is raised, and the hinged frame e carrying
the background photograph is turned aside into the position indicated in
dotted lines in Figures 2 and 5, so as to allow the light from the lens to
fall direct on the sensitive plate d. The image of the sitter having been
sufficiently impressed on the sensitive plate the cap is placed on the lens,
and the sitter is then darkened and a white background put behind him.
The hinged frame and carrier holding the photographic background i is
now turned upon the sensitive plate into the position represented, so as
to bring the said background nearly in contact with the sensitive plate d.
The cap is removed from the lens, and the light from the said lens
now passes through the photographic background, and the said back-
ground is impressed on all parts of the sensitive plate not covered by the
sitter.
A combined photograph, that is, a portrait in combination with a
background, is thereby produced, without a rigid line separating the
different parts of the combination photograph.
Although I prefer to combine the hinged frame and carrier with the
dark slide of the camera, as described and illustrated, yet the said hinged
frame and carrier may be hinged to the inside of the camera with the
same or nearly the same effect.
I will next describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
apparatus which I use for enlargement and for combination printing
without onlongement

page_text: Figure 8 represents a front elevation and edge view of the said appa-
ratus; Figure 9 represents a cross section of the same; and Figure 10
represents the edge opposite to that represented in Figure 8.
Figure 11 represents the double or hinged box constituting the appa-
ratus open; Figure 12 is an edge view of the same; and Figure 13 is a
horizontal section of the same.
The said apparatus consists of a double or hinged box, the two parts
being marked respectively p, q, and hinged together at p³. In each part
or half is a hole somewhat larger than the plates of the portrait and masks
to be fixed in them. The portrait is fixed by putty or cement in the part q
of the double or hinged box, and upon the front of the part p is a sliding
and adjustable carrier in which the mask is fixed by putty or cement.
In the said carrier rare elliptical slots 8, 8, (see Figures 8 and 13,) which
take upon fixed screw pins t on the part p of the box. By means of the
said pins and slots s, t, and the screw nuts u, u, the carrier » may be
adjusted on the half box p and its position fixed. By means of a register
pin or pins on one half of the box taking into a corresponding hole or
holes in the other half of the box the two halves or parts p, q, are made
to close accurately upon one another.
In using this apparatus it is fixed (after the portrait and mask have
been properly adjusted) in front of the enlarging lens, and the part or
half p carrying the mask is turned aside upon the hinge på, and the
light allowed to pass through the portrait in the part q, and the said
portrait is thereby copied on an enlarged scale on the sensitive plate.
The portrait having been sufficiently exposed the half p of the box
supporting the carrier and mask is turned in front of the lens, and the
half q carrying the portrait is turned from the front of the lens. The
mask in the part p is now illuminated and the light radiated therefrom
is directed by the lens to the superposed background photograph and
the said background is printed, the mask preventing any printing upon
the portrait already impressed on the plate, as herein-before described.
The apparatus described may be used for combination printing without
enlargement.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as

page_text: the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my Inven-
tion; but I claim as my Invention of improvements in photographic
processes and in apparatus to be used in connection with the said
improvements,-
First. Producing combination photographs, whether negative or
positive, that is, photographs in which the sitter or principal object is
photographed in combination with any required background by the
processes or combination of processes herein-before described, that is to
say, by photographing at one operation the sitter or principal object
suitably illuminated and in front of a dark background and upon a dark
floor, and by a second operation photographing upon the same sensitive
surface the required background and foreground by the use of a
transparent photograph brought in front of and close to the sensitive
surface, the sitter or principal object retaining during the second
operation the same position as was occupied during the first operation,
but being thrown during the second operation into darkness by curtains
or by otherwise excluding light, a white or light background being
employed behind the sitter or object, and a white fabric or material on
the floor, substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly. The modification of the process or combination of processes
for producing combination photographs herein-before described with
reference to Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the accompanying
Drawings, the said modification being suited for the production of
enlarged photographs as well as for combination printing without
enlargement, that is to say, the production and use substantially in the
way described of a separate mask and negative.
Thirdly. The photographic apparatus herein-before described and
represented in Figures 1 to 7, both inclusive, of the accompanying
Drawings for producing combination photographs, whether positive or
negative, the parts of the said apparatus being constructed, combined,
and used substantially as and for the purposes described.
Fourthly. The photographic apparatus herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the accompanying
Drawings for producing photographic negatives to be employed either
for producing enlarged photographic positives or for printing positives
without enlargement, substantially as described.

page_text: Fifthly. The arrangements substantially as herein-before described
for illuminating or throwing into shade at pleasure the sitter or principal
object.
Lastly. The use of a dark background behind the sitter or principal
object and extending on the floor of the studio or place where the
photograph is taken to the front of the sitter or principal object, the said
dark background being used when the sitter is illuminated, and the use
of a like extending background, either white or of a light colour in con-
junction with the sitter or principal object when the said sitter or object
is thrown into shade, substantially as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tilley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
15 Witness,
HERBERT CHATFIELD,
Stafford.
WILLIAM TILLEY. (LÅS.)