Improvements in and relating to Color Photography.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1896-4ccepted, 11th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Color Photography.
I, JAMES WILLIAM MCDONOUGH, of Manhattan Building, Chicago, Cook
County, Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
ature of my 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 my invention is to produce colored pictures by the aid of
photography, and it has more particular reference to the processes and means for
effecting the proper registration of the patterns employed on the negative or
positive plates, the paper on and the apparatus by which the printing is done; and
my invention consists in the processes, features, combinations and arrangements
hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved printing frame;
Fig. 2 a transverse section through the frame;
Fig. 3 a section of a multi-colored screen, with registering marks represented by
opaque and transparent lines on one side;
Fig. 4 a section of a multi-colored screen, with registering marks in one
corner;
Fig. 5 a multi-colored screen, with a round registering mark in one corner;
Fig. 6 a section of a registering screen, with opaque lines;
Fig. 7 a section of the registering screen, with a diagonal square mark in one
corner;
Fig. 8 an object to be photographed ;
Fig. 9 a multi-colored screen having at one side or edge the registering
marks; and
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 the photographs of objects.
In carrying out or effecting my process for producing colored pictures by the
aid of photography, I make a screen or plate by ruling, printing, or placing upon
the plate of glass, mica, celluloid, or other suitable material, figures-as lines, dots,
patterns which are microscopic in size, say, three hundred in width to the inch,
and in alternating, different, transparent colors, say, one of orange red, one of
yellowish green, and one of violet blue, or their complementaries. Or, the entire
range of the spectrum colors may be used, if preferred.
This screen is further treated by continuing the red or other line beyond the
others, which are arrested in some particular place, as shown by T in Fig. 4,
which shows a section of the lines upon a screen; or the red line may be made
opaque by ruling or printing over it another line in a patch or patches as
shown by O in Fig. 6; or the red line may be opaqued and the others
left blank and transparent, as shown by O and T in Fig. 3-where the
registering lines are continued the entire length of both sides or the ends and
sides, if preferred. These registering lines may be confined to one pattern, or may
cover a certain space-say, half an inch. In case half an inch were covered, fifty
red lines would be opaqued where they were arranged at three hundred to the
inch. Of course, any other colored line or lines than the red may be opaqued or
left transparent and blank. This opaquing also may be extended over several
lines in a patch or patches, as shown by O in Fig. 6, or be confined to a single line,
or a hole perforated, or a bare spot or line left in the screen, as shown by T in
Fig. 5. Where patches are used, it is, I think, advisable to have them ou more
than one corner of the screen, or extended the entire length of one side.

page_text: It will be noticed that in all these opaqued or transparent lines or patches, the
markings point out or bring to view some single line of the colors for the purpose
of registration. In the screen, the lines, dots or figures of different colors are so
fine that they are not distinguishable with the naked eye, and it is necessary to
distinguish by some mark or definite characteristic the color on the screen, so that
the mark or means for distinguishing the line or lines shall be impressed on the
negative which has no color. In Figs. 3, 4 and 6, for example, the red lines, R,
are selected or pointed out, and when a screen like that shown in these figures is
used a negative is obtained, which, when placed over paper ruled to correspond
in color and register with the screen used, a series of blue and green lines are
hidden, and a strip of red lines is exposed to view, which, by its extent-say,
half
an inch wide by the length of the screen-presents a broad line of pure red. If,
however, the negative and paper are not in register, a series of colors are exposed
containing the other colors of the spectrum, which shows that a true registration
has not been obtained. In Fig. 5 the transparent circle, T, points out or marks
the line, R, on the left-hand side and a line, G, on the right side. In Fig. 7
the opaque diamond, O, points to a line, G, on the left-hand side, and a line, B,
on the right-hand side, and its four corners make a separation of the lines R, G,
and R and B. It will thus be seen that, as above suggested, the transparent or
opaque lines or patches, as shown in the drawings, point out certain single lines of
the colors, and thus facilitate the securing of proper registration.
In all these cases, where there is a transparent or opaque line or pattern, patch
or hole, such portion forms a fixed or invariable and distinctive characteristic or
peculiarity, which is reproduced in the sensitive material applied to the screen,
and which serves as a guide or mark to determine the position of the parts in
effecting registration thereafter. The screen is placed in front of the photographic
sensitive plate in the camera, in such manner that the image of the object to be
photographed shall pass through the screen before reaching and impressing itself
on the sensitive plate. Clear, transparent, colorless lines on the registering
portion of the screen will allow any color to pass through. Opaque lines or
patterns will cut off all light, and a corresponding registering portion will show on
the negative when developed. This registering portion of the screen may be
detached and again united, or placed permanently in the camera to be used in
combination with the multi-colored screen.
The negatives used by me may be produced in various ways. I do not deem it
necessary to here describe all of such ways, but will describe several which serve
as illustrations of others and of the method employed. Fig. 8 is a plan view of
an object to be photographed-which object represents a section of white cardboard
upon which are printed rectangular patches in red, green and blue, and which is
used for the sake of simplicity of illustration. Fig. 9 represents a plan view of a
magnified section of a multi-colored screen, from which the negative is produced;
and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 represent negatives showing opaque registering lines
produced when the screen is transparent, and transparent registering lines produced
when the screen is opaque.
To more fully and in detail explain what is illustrated in the drawings, Fig. 10
represents a negative taken through the multi-colored screen shown in Fig. 9.
It is made by placing the screen of such figure in the camera or plate holder of
the camera, in such way as that the sensitive plate upon which the negative picture
is to be developed may be placed, with the sensitive material or side in close
contact with the colored lines of the screen. The screen is placed between the lens
and sensitive plate, so that the rays of light from the object to be photographed
will pass through the colored lines of the screen before reaching the sensitive
plate. The light from a red object, such as shown in Fig. 8 at R, will penetrate
the red lines of the screen and impress the sensitive material, but will be absorbed
by the blue and green lines of the screen. In like manner, the blue and green
lives will penetrate the blue and green lines of the screen, but will be absorbed by
the others. The plate is developed and a negative produced in lines corresponding

page_text: to the lines of the screen, but in black and white. Upon the screen illustrated in
Fig. 9 is an opaque line, O, which takes the place of the red line and two
transparent lines, T, which take the place of the blue and green lines. All colored
light is cut off by the opaque line, and all light transmitted by the transparent
lines. Only one series of lines are shown in the screen illustrated in Fig. 3; but
they may be extended laterally so as to cover fifty or more series, or, say, half an
inch or more space, on the multi-colored screen. The negative shown in Fig. 10
shows one transparent line, T, near the right-hand side, corresponding to the
opaque line, O, of the screen shown in Fig. 9, and the opaque space at the right
of the transparent line, T, in Fig. 10 corresponds to the transparent space of the
screen of Fig. 9. The negative shows a series of opaque lines, R, in Fig. 10,
corresponding to the action of the light from the object at R in Fig. 8, and a series
of lines, B, corresponding to the action of the light from the object at B in Fig. 8,
and a series of lines, G, corresponding to the action of light from the object at G
in Fig. 8. The negative shown in Fig. 11 shows the effect produced by a screen
upon which all the colored lines are opaqued in a certain space and extend to a
certain line, say, G. The first line in the transparent space, T, of Fig. 11,
represents the colored line next to G. The negative shown in Fig. 12 shows the
effect produced by a screen upon which all colored lines are left transparent in a
certain space extending to a certain line, say G. The first line in the transparent
space at the right represents the colored line next to G.
In making a negative by the method which I prefer to describe, I take a multi-
colored screen or plate, which is provided with different colored transparent
substances, arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines,
figures-in such proportions and of such colors and degrees of size as will present
to the eye a white or light colored neutral tint, the lines of such pattern to be,
say, orange red represented by R, yellowish green represented by G, and violet
blue represented by B, ruled or printed--say, three hundred lines to the inch.
The screen must be placed in the camera in contact with an ortho-chromatic
dry plate, in such position that the light from the object to be photographed will
pass through the multi-colored screen to effect the sensitive plate. The exposure
is then made. The negative when developed from this screen is obtained in
patterns corresponding to the patterns of the screen, and to the effect of the light
as selected by the different colors of the screen. The part of this negative where
covered by opaqued red lines will be transparent, and opaque where the blank
lines are left. If, now, a piece of paper or other material, ruled or printed in lines
to correspond in color and alternation and to register with the lines in the screen,
and provided with material sensitive to the action of the light, be placed under
and in contact with the negative, with the rotation of colors correct, the negative
may be moved until the lines are parallel, and when the transparent lines in the
place of the red register with the red lines in the paper, and the other lines are
covered with the opaque liues of the negative, the registration is complete. This
registering portion will be red to the view, and the other portions may be
disregarded. In this way, simple color effects may be absolutely obtained as the
one color is presented to the view in the registering portion, and the other colors
entirely obscured or suppressed. The paper or material used may be printed in
the light to a picture in colors and toned or developed.
These lines and this effect on the negative may also be obtained by placing on or
Dear the subject to be photographed an object, as a piece of paper of the comple-
mentary color. Of red this complementary color is of a bluish green. In this
case, also, the line representing the red line will be transparent in the negative and
the other lines opaque, and the register with the negative will be effected in the
same manner. Or, if preferred, the negative-after being produced by the screen-
may thereafter be provided with blots, marks or other characteristics-as, for
instance, scratching out a portion of a line or pattern-by which facility in
registering may be effected.
In order to register the lines of the negative with the lines of the paper to be

page_text: printed upon, I have invented a printing frame, which I have illustrated in the
drawings and will describe in this specification.
In the drawings-see Figs. 1 and 2-A is a box or frame, having a recess in
which is placed a negative or positive plate, P, from which the impression or print
is intended to be made. C, C, are adjusting screws passing through the sides of
the frame, in such position that their points either press against the negative or
upon the movable parts of the levers, D, D, on one or two sides as may be preferred.
These levers, D, D, are held against the plate, P, by the follower springs, d.
These springs may be of sufficient strength to enable the adjusting screws to be
dispensed with on one side and the springs alone relied on. In this case the
operation of the springs would be to push the plate toward the opposite side of
the frame, and the screws there could be used to adjust the plate back against the
pressure of the springs to the desired point. E is the paper or material to be
printed upon, which is in contact with the negative or positive, as in the ordinary
photographic printing frame. It is obvious that these adjusting screws may be
arranged so as to move the paper instead of the negative or positive plate, if
preferred. By the use of the screws or other means for moving and adjusting the
parts, the plate or paper may be shifted or turned so as to cause the lines of the
negative to register with those of the paper. F is the hinged cover for holding
the paper in contact with the negative. This cover may be faced with rubber, G,
or other material having a rough or tacky surface, to hold the paper and prevent
it from shifting or expanding. K, K, are springs, fixed to the cover to hold the
cover and plate in close contact.
Let us take-for clearness of description-an example where the paper is ruled
in three alternating lines, say, three hundred to the inch, in red, green and blue,
and sensitized with a material which will print or change to black in sunlight, and
the plate register with it in lines obtained by the action of light from the object
photographed in lines or bands corresponding in color and alternation with those
of the paper. This plate or negative develops opaque, or proportionately obscure
where light has acted and transparent in proportion to the non-action of light, and
we wish to print a positive picture from it. In order to do this, we put the
negative in the printing frame, so that the silver surface or picture will come in
contact with the colored surface of the sensitized paper, and press them in close
contact. We use the adjusting screws, C, C, to make the lines parallel and
register the colors. With this arrangement we cover the colored lines we wish to
show in the finished picture, and leave uncovered those we wish to obscure. The
picture we see through the negative before printing is in complementary colors-
for instance, a red object will appear of the complementary green through the
negative. When the picture is exposed and printed in the light and fixed, this
green would be obscured and the red would be left visible as is desired, and so
with the other colors.
When the positive is used to print a positive upon a colored paper, as in some
direct process, or when the positive is used to form a picture upon transparent
colored material, as soon as the register is obtained by adjustment, the picture is
shown in its proper colors and can be viewed through the glass. In this case the
cover, F, should be made in the shape of an open frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1
1. A frame for holding or printing photographic pictures in colors, consisting of
a receptacle for holding a negative or positive plate, a cover for holding a printing
paper or material in contact with the plate, and means for moving the plate or
paper or material relatively to each other to cause lines or patterns on their faces
to register with each other.
2. A frame for holding or printing photographic pictures in colors, consisting of
a receptacle for holding a negative or positive plate, a cover for holding a printing

page_text: paper or material in contact with the plate provided with a surface of rough or-
tacking material next to and in contact with the paper or material to prevent the
same from shifting or expanding while printing, and means for moving the plate or
paper or material relatively to each other to cause lines or patterns on their faces.
to register with each other.
3. A frame for holding or printing photographic pictures in colors, consisting
of a receptacle for holding a negative or positive plate, a cover for holding a.
printing paper or material in contact with the plate, and springs and screws.
operating in opposition to each other for moving the plate
or paper or material'
relatively to each other to cause lines or patterns on their faces to register with.
each other.
4. A frame for holding or printing photographic pictures in colors, consisting
of a receptacle for holding a negative or positive plate and printing paper or
material in contact, and provided with adjusting screws to effect the registration of
the lines on the plate and paper.
5. A screen or plate for photographic purposes provided with colored substances
arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines, figures-and
having a portion where there is a fixed or invariable and distinctive characteristic
which is reproduced in the sensitive material applied to it, by which such material
may thereafter be registered or adjusted in position in use.
6. A screen or plate for photographic purposes provided with colored substances
arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines, figures-and
having a portion or portions where one line or pattern is opaqued printed over.
7. A screen or plate for photographic purposes provided with colored substances
arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines, figures-and:
having a portion where a line or pattern of one color is opaqued and others of
other color or transparent and clear.
8. A screen or plate for photographic purposes provided with colored substances
arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines, figures-and
having a portion where a line or pattern is transparent and clear and others of
other color opaqued.
9. A screen or plate for photographic purposes provided with colored substances.
arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines, figures-and
having a portion or portions where all lines are transparent and colorless.
10. A screen or plate for photographic purposes provided with colored substances
arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines, figures-and
having a portion or portions where all lines are spotted ar opaqued.
11. A screen or plate for photographic purposes provided with colored substances
arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines, figures-and
having a portion or portions where one line or pattern is extended beyond the
others.
12. A screen or plate for photographic purposes provided with colored substances
arranged according to regular recurring patterns-as dots, lines, figures-in
combination with a screen for registering purposes having transparent and opaque.
lines or patterns corresponding in register, size and alternation with the lines or
patterns of the multi-colored screen.
13. A negative or positive photographic plate made with recurring patterns-as.
dots, lines, figures-and having a portion where there is a fixed and invariable and
distinctive characteristic which is produced in the sensitive material of the plate
and by which the plate may thereafter be registered or adjusted in position.
in use.
14. A negative or positive photographic plate made with recurring patterns-as..
dots, lines, figures-produced by the action of different colored light in regular
alternating order, having a portion of its surface printed and developed for the-
purpose of registering by means of and with a transparent line or pattern in each.
series of lines or patterns.
15. A negative or positive photographic plate made with recurring patterns-as

page_text: dots, lines, figures-produced by the action of different colored light in regular
alternating order, having a portion of its surface printed and developed for the
purpose of registering by means of and with an opaque line or pattern in each
series of lines or patterns.
16. A negative or positive photographic plate made with recurring patterns-as
dots, lines, figures-produced by the action of different colored light in regular
alternating order, having a portion of its surface printed and developed for the
purpose of registering by means of and with an opaque spot covering all lines and
patterns in that spot.
17. A negative or positive photographic plate made with recurring patterns-as
dots, lines, figures-produced by the action of different colored light in regular
alternating order, having a portion of its surface printed and developed for the
purpose of registering by means of and with a transparent spot covering all
patterns in that spot.
Dated this 9th day of June 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.