AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR OBTAINING PICTURES IN COLORS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR OBTAINING PICTURES IN COLORS." A
communication from abroad by Cheri Rousseau, of St. Etienne (Loire), in the
Republic of France.
26
Scaled the 17th April 1877, and dated the 24th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1876.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR OBTAINING
PICTURES IN COLORS."
The object of this Invention is to obtain pictures on canvas or other ground in
oil colors by the aid of the carbon photographic process in lieu of employing the
skilled artist for producing such pictures.
The process is applicable to all kinds of pictures, such as portraits, landscapes,
still life, and the reproduction of paintings.
In carrying out the Invention a photographic carbon print of the object to be
reproduced is first made on some suitably prepared supporting paper, and the photo-
graphic picture is then tinted with crude oil colors which are thickly applied with
a brush. As soon as the colors are dry the picture thus prepared is coated with
some adhesive substance; it is then transferred to the canvas or other ground and
caused to adhere thereto; the supporting paper which has received the carbon print
is then removed, and a coloured picture is then presented to view, the toning down
of the crude colours used, and the outlines and shadows being due to the photo-
graphic print.
The supporting paper may be prepared with stearine, alcohol, and resin, or with
caoutchouc dissolved in benzine, but all such papers are to be found in commerce,
and it is therefore unnecessary to describe them further.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
April 1877.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR OBTAINING
PICTURES IN COLOURS.' A communication from abroad by Cheri Rousseau, of
St. Etienne (Loire), in the Republic of France.
The object of this Invention is to obtain pictures on canvas or other permanent
backing in colors by the aid of the carbon photographic process in lieu of employing
the skilled artist for producing such pictures.
The process is applicable to all kinds of pictures, such as portraits, landscapes,
still life, and the reproductions of paintings.
In carrying out the Invention a photographic carbon print of the object to be
reproduced is first obtained; this print is then mounted on a temporary supporting
paper and in a reversed position; the photographic picture is then tinted with colours
prepared with any suitable medium, but oil colours will by preference be generally
employed. The colours of whatever kind are thickly applied with a brush, care
being taken to follow the details of the subject in their appropriate colours. When
the crude colours thus carefully applied to the carbon print are dry the whole
surface of the picture is coated with some adhesive substance, and while wet it is
transferred to the canvas or other permanent backing, and caused by gentle pressure
to adhere thereto. The supporting paper which still covers the face of the carbon
print is now to be removed in the manner ordinarily practised in the remounting
of carbon prints, after which the colored picture will be presented to view, the crude
colors being toned down and blended with the tints and shadows of the photo-
graphic print.
The paper for temporarily supporting the carbon print in reverse may be pre-
pared with stearine, alcohol, and resin, or with caoutchouc dissolved in benzine; but
papers of this kind being readily found in the market it will be unnecessary to
describe their mode of preparation.
It will be understood that the coloured pictures when transferred to their canvas
or other backing may if desired be retouched on the face to remove any defects in
the photograph, and to give increased force to the lights and shadows of the picture.
This operation, as it requires great skill and judgment, can only be entrusted to an
experienced artist.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "An Improved Process for
Obtaining Pictures in Colours," as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim, producing colored
pictures upon a canvas or other permanent support by applying colors in oil or
other media to carbon photographs mounted on a temporary paper or other support,
and attaching the same when dry to the canvas, and then removing the temporary
paper support from the face of the picture.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
H. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)