Improved Means and Methods of Producing Photographic Pictures.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
COMPLIE
DIEULTIVATION.
Improved Means and Methods of Producing Photographic Pictures.
FRANCIS FREDERIC WEEKS, Artist-draughtsman and Photographer, of
21, Thorpe Road, Forest Gate, in the County of Essex, and JOSEPH RILEY,
Merchant and Manufacturer of 5, Cheapside, Bradford in the County of Yorkshire,
England, 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 :-
The object of this, our invention, is to produce by a combination of artistic mani-
pulation and photographic procedure, pictures, magic lantern slides, dissolving
effects, prints and the like, from living models, artificial figures, statuary and the
like, with all the necessary scenic surroundings required by each pictorial subject,
and thereby making perfect and complete pictorial representations of ancient,
existing or original subjects, and producing, and reproducing the same by the
means of this invention without the aid, use or cost of providing backgrounds,
foregrounds, set pieces, and such like other scenic effects and "properties"
usually provided and made use of for producing and procuring the same or similar
results.
as are
To effect and accomplish the foregoing a plain (preferably white) background or
cloth and floor cloth in continuation may be used, in front and upon which the living
or artificial models are arranged and grouped according to the design, composition
and character of the subject to be represented, may require, and should the
personages of the subject be required to appear in elevated, aerial or perilous
positions or postures or the like, we make use of sundry and certain skeleton
frames, supports and suchlike devices upon which to fix and arrange or group them
made and formed to the requirements of such positions postures and the like,
according to the requirements or design of the subject to be represented.
After having composed our subject or picture or the figure portions thereof, to
our satisfaction and the design of the picture or subject to be represented we
proceed to make a photographic negative thereof, by any photographic method we
may think best.
The negative being made, we proceed to remedy any defects appearing thereon
by the ordinary process of retouching, mending and so forth, when this has been
done, the negative so taken and amended, undergoes a process which is known in
the trade as being "blocked" or "blacked out" leaving the model figures visable
only, untouched by the "blacking out process, and entirely obliterating the
supports and the like, this negative is to be called "the figure negative."
"
From this, the said "figure negative" when completed, a photographic enlarge-
ment is made upon suitable photographic paper or other suitable meterial, and
upon the plain portions of this, surrounding the model figures appearing thereon,
we proceed to design, draw or paint in all the required scenic representation and
effects appertaining to the pictorial subject, thus making a complete pictorial
representation of the subject we intend to pourtray, and showing the photographic
representations of the model figures surrounded with the hand drawn or painted
scenic effects and required surroundings. When finished, this the aforesaid
enlargement, and the handwork thereon is photographed to produce a negative
therefrom by any photographic process as may be preferred, and this the said
negative, being the second negative made in by and for this method, is to be called
"the working negative," and by and from this, the said "working negative" the
copies, and all required reproductions, such as magic lantern slides or the like, are
to be made and reproduced by any photographic or other process, and upon any
material as may be desired or required.

page_text: This invention provides the only method, by which the production and repro-
duction of any subject or subjects, of either ancient, existing or original pictorial or
natural representations, can be obtained, in which the human, zoological, allegorical
or other figure subject being represented by living or artifical models, can be made
to appear (in the finished photographic pictures) as if they, the said models, were
.photographed whilst in the midst of, and surrounded by natural or artificial scenic
formations, at one and the same time, but which, in fact, was not the case, the said
scenic formations and suchlike surroundings, really being an after-production by
artistic handwork upon the photographic enlargement, made from a negative taken
directly of, and in which, the figure models, only appear.
By the use of skeleton frames and supports, pedestals and suchlike devices, for
fixing up, supporting and arranging our models or figure subjects in elevated, aeril
or any postures or positions as we may desire, or the composition of our subjects
may require, we avoid and entirely supersede the aid, use and cost of providing
backgrounds, foregrounds, set pieces and such like scenic accessories and effects,
(usually made use of hitherto for procuring and effecting the production of the
same or similar results, hitherto known as photographic "life model" lautern
slides, or suchlike photographic productions,) at a much less cost to the producer,
and a more artistic and realastic character to the user than heretofore produced, in
use, or employed for the same or similar purposes and results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. An improved process for obtaining photographic pictures, in which living
figures or models are photographed against a plain background, making an
enlargement of the same and then filling in the portion surrounding the figures with
representations of the desired scene to be again photographed substantially as
described.
2. An improved process for the production of photographic pictures without the
usual scenic surroundings, in which a negative is taken of living figures or models
against a plain or other background, the surrounding portions blocked out, leaving
only the figures, and an enlargement made, the scenic surroundings being then
filled in on the enlargement, to be again photographed, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
3. In a photographic process of the kind claimed above, the employment of
skeleton frames or supports on which the figures are supported for the production
of the first negative, the negative being then treated and the enlargement made
and prepared, substantially as described.
4. The improved process for the production of photographic pictures without
the use of the ordinary scenic surroundings, described in the foregoing Specification.
Signed this Seventh day of June One thousand eight hundred and ninety-four.
FRANCIS FREDERIC WEEKS, and
JOSEPH RILEY.