Improved Process and Apparatus for the Plastic Representation of Solid Bodies by the Aid of Photography.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process and Apparatus for the Plastic Representation of
Solid Bodies by the Aid of Photography.
I, WILLY SELKE, of Kurfuerstenstrasse 40, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Photographer, 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 essential features of this invention consist in producing from the model
or object to be represented or imitated a series of photographs, which photographs
are then aggregated for building up a plastic or solid representation of the said
model or object.
For effecting these operations so called series-apparatus are employed for
obtaining a number of consecutive photographs such apparatus being similar to
cinematograph apparatus or the like, but the successive photographs do not, as
in that apparatus, record a series of movements of the object but a series of
different light and shade effects, or "light_sections" of the object which are
produced by means of one or more sources of light in conjunction with a screen
having a relative motion to the object, as will be hereinafter explained.
on a
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
A movable pedestal or platform 1 carries the sources of light 2, 2 of any
required number and an elastic or linked light-screen 3 in such a manner that
these objects are always situated in the same relative positions. The pedestal
is connected with a part of any suitable known moving mechanism, for instance, the
film-roll of the photographic series-apparatus, by a traction device for instance, by
a chain 5, passing over rollers 7, so that when the photographic apparatus is
set in action, the pedestal is also simultaneously pulled or moved a certain way
forward or backward. On placing the model to be photographed at 6
stationary stand within the light screen 3 so that the light coming from the
sources 2, does not yet touch the object and then setting the series-apparatus 4
in action, the pedestal with light sources and screen will move simultaneously
from the front backwards while the object remains stationary so that on the
model there are formed light-sections, the limiting lines of which depend upon
the form of the model. These light sections can of course also be obtained in
reverse order, for instance, by letting the limiting lines of the light and shade
pass over the model from the back to the front in a continuous or successive
movement.
Each of the photographic pictures formed will thus give a differently formed
light section, black on white ground. During the taking of the photographs,
one could of course, also move the model and let the light sources with screen
be stationary. The negative-film-strips obtained are afterwards again passed
through the series apparatus and exposed on a photographic plate etc. over one
another and by printing for instance on a chrome gelatine layer and swelling
the same, a plastic or solid form is obtained or one may cut or corrode out the
light sections singly and put them together in the successive order and the position
of the photographs so as to produce a form, the intermediate spaces of which
are filled up with plastic material.

page_text: For producing complete solid bodies, for instance busts by the said process,
it is necessary on using the apparatus according to Figs. 1 and 2 to take two
series of photographs, one from the front of the model and one from the back
of the same and to unite them both, or the apparatus shewn in Fig. 3 may be
used. Fig. 3 is a plan of the apparatus. 8 is the model to be reproduced,
round which, on the circular guide rails 9, a pedestal 10 or a similar support
can move in a circle. On the pedestal are arranged a number of light sources 11, 11
standing over one another in a vertical plane and an elastic or linked light
screen 12 is arranged in such a manner that a light section is made on the model,
for instance, 13, 14. On both sides of the light sources, there are series appar-
atus 15, 15, whose distances from the light sources 11 can be varied at pleasure.
When using the apparatus, the pedestal is turned in any suitable manner,
while the series apparatus, which are connected with the wheels of the pedestal
by suitable known mechanical transmission devices simultaneously take photo-
graphs of the light sections at certain intervals. The photographic films in the
apparatus are parallel to the plane of the light sections, so that the light sections
are not perspectively shortened but are reproduced geometrically correct. For
models of simple form, it is sufficient to use only one series apparatus. If, how-
ever, the model has strongly projecting parts or deep hollows. there is used on
each side of the light source one or more series apparatus. The light sections
obtained are corroded out, cut out etc. When one has worked simultaneously with
two series apparatus, the two film strips obtained are placed one over the other, so
that the corresponding pairs of simultaneously exposed light-section-takings
cover each other and form one light section and the copies or magnified images
of the light sections build up a plastic representation of the model. For this
purpose, the apparatus shewn in elevation Fig. 4 is preferably used. On a
circular rotatable pedestal or platform 16 is situated a vertical central axis 17.
On the bed plate 18 is secured a vertical plane 19 which is directed radially to
the disc 16. The surface of the disc 16 is preferably divided into degrees and
may be adjusted in any suitable manner. The sheet with the first light sec-
tion is placed flat against 19 and secured in any suitable manner to the central
axle and the pedestal. Then the pedestal is turned round the respective number
of degrees, which were situated between the pairs of light sections during the
taking of the photograph and the subsequent light section is secured again
by being placed against 17 and 16 etc. Instead of turning the pedestal, the
vertical plane 9 may be turned and the pedestal left stationary. After all
the light sections are united, the intermediate spaces are filled up with plastic
material and a solid representation of the model or object is thus produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A process for the plastic representation of solid bodies by the aid of
photography which consists in first photographing by a series of consecutive
operations a series of different light and shade effects, or light sections produced
upon the object by suitable means the aggregation of such series of photographs
being then employed for building up the plastic representation of the object,
substantially as described.
2. In the process referred to in the first claim, producing the photographic
impressions of the series of different light sections of the object by the aid of
series photographic apparatus operating in the manner of cinametographic
apparatus or the like, substantially as described.
3. In the process referred to in the first and second claims, producing the
series of different light sections of the object by means of one or more sources
of light operating in combination with a screen, a continuous or step by step
motion being imparted either to the light and screen, or to the object for this
purpose substantially as described,

page_text: 4. For carrying out the process referred to in the first claim, the combination
of two series of photographic apparatus so placed relatively to the object as to
produce simultaneously two photographs of each light section thereof, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
5. For carrying out the process referred to in the preceding claims, an apparatus
consisting of a pedestal or platform, such as 1, on which are mounted the
sources of light such as 2, 2, and a screen such as 3, so arranged in connection
with series photographic apparatus 4, and the object 6, that a continuous or step
by step relative motion is effected between the latter and the light and screen
while the successive photographs are being taken by the series apparatus, sub-
stantially as described with reference to Fig. 1 of the drawing.
6. For carrying out the process referred to in the first and second claims, an
apparatus consisting of a pedestal or platform 10 carrying sources of light 11,
a screen 12 and series photographic apparatus 15, so arranged relatively to the
central object 8 that either the platform and parts carried thereby travel round
the object, or the latter travels round relatively to the platform while the success-
sive photographs of the different light sections are being taken, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
7. For agregating the photographic light sections obtained by the process
and apparatus referred to in the 1st and 6th claims, an apparatus consisting of a
pedestal or platform 10 having a central vertical stem and operating in com-
bination with a radial plane 19, either the platform or the plane being rotatable
while the other part is stationary substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.