IM- PROVEMENTS IN CHROMOTYPE AND AUTOTYPE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING, AND COLORING OR TINTING THE SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir Thomas George Augustus Parkyns, Bart., of Harnham
Cliff, near Salisbury, in the County of Wilts, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CHROMOTYPE AND AUTOTYPE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING, AND
COLORING OR TINTING THE SAME."
Sealed the 18th January 1878, and dated the 24th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir Thomas George Augustus
Parkyns at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August
1877.
Sir THOMAS GEORGE AUGUSTUS PARKYNS, Bart., of Harnham Cliff, near
Salisbury, in the County of Wilts. " IMPROVEMENTS IN CHROMOTYPE AND
AUTOTYPE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING, AND COLORING OR TINTING THE SAME."
This Invention relates to improvements in the process of printing chromotype and
autotype photographic pictures so as to tint or color the same. For this purpose,
according to my Invention, I employ two methods of producing colored effects in
chromotype or autotype prints.
First. In place of applying plain collodion on the waxed glass previous to
applying the pigmented tissue (supplied by the Autotype Company), I use collodion
colored according to taste or fancy, or the requirements of the particular case or
subject.
Second. I proceed with the process of printing according to the usual practice in
chromotype, but before transferring the gelatine pigment from the glass to the
transfer paper, which constitutes the finished print, I flow the gelatine alum-fixed
picture with colored collodion, by which a colored tint is imparted to the picture.
The tints produced and imparted to photographic prints in the process of
printing, as previously described in accordance with my Invention, may be greatly
varied, depending upon the character and proportions of the permanent colors or
pigments and chemicals used, and in the manipulation thereof.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Sir Thomas George Augustus Parkyns in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd February 1878.
Sir THOMAS GEORGE AUGUSTUS PARKYNS, Baronet, of Harnham Cliff, near
Salisbury, in the County of Wilts. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHROMOTYPE AND
AUTOTYPE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING, AND COLORING OR TINTING THE SAME."
"
My Invention is an addition or improvement to the autotype and chromotype
processes. It consists in the fact of my being enabled to color prints so as to pro-
duce a pleasing relief as to tint from the ordinary monotone, or white and black, or
one shade of color. I therefore designate it "bichrome."
I adopt the autotype system exactly, with modifications or additions, and for this
purpose I use a colored medium. These mediums are various, but some of them
are difficult to manipulate, and none of them so good, practically, as collodion, seeing
that they must be applied with water, which requires a considerable time to dry,
and is more difficult to manage, whereas collodion flows regularly on the plate and
dries immediately. I treat therefore of collodion only, reserving the right as to
other mediums which might be applied to the principle of my Invention.
I prefer to use no fugitive dies or any colors which are likely to fade or change;
nevertheless, it is at the option of anyone working under this Patent to use any
means or colors, or kinds of colors he may choose, but he cannot in such case
guarantee his productions to be permanent unless his dyes or pigments be so
accredited by the profession.
I use no colors except dry pigments. These are principally earths or pigments
known from long experience to be absolutely permanent, such as the madders, but
I can use any colors. These colors I mix in various proportions and thoroughly
grind and levigate them in a mortar, adding more or less of the various colours until
the desired shade or tint is obtained..
When the proposed colour is arrived at, or supposed to be, I add a very small
quantity to a very small quantity of collodion (as described hereafter), and having
allowed it to thoroughly dry on white paper, it (after having been well shaken)
gives the permanent color of the medium. The pigments not being all of the same
weight I use a small measure, about as large as a small thimble, to which a handle
has been attached, and of a size suitable for the necks of my pigment bottles. With
this I take so many parts of one color, and so many parts of others, carefully
registering the various proportions, so that there may be no uncertainty after
wards. I find that about balf a measure is sufficient to colour one ounce of
plain collodion, because the tint should generally be arrived at by the mixing
of the pigments to the proper shade and not by adding pigment to the collodion.
If too much pigment be added the result will be that in the final operation
the transfer paper will not have the power to "pick up" the first collodion,
the result being unsatisfactory. Neither must the collodion be of a horny nature,
or made with too much pyroxiline.
For the collodion (normal), I take about one hundred grains of a medium
pyroxiline (which must not be powdery, nor too tough), and having put it into a
bottle I add ten ounces of the strongest ether (methylated will do). I then add
five ounces of the strongest methylated alcohol. This nearly dissolves the pyroxiline.
I then either add a portion of another five ounces of alcohol to the pigment in the
mortar, and grind it again for a minute or so, and pour it into the collodion (washing
out the mortar with the remainder of the alcohol); or I put the whole of the alcohol
into the collodion and add the pigment in powder. In either case the whole must
be thoroughly well shaken, when it may be immediately used.
The above is the formula, which may be increased or diminished to any
extent.
The measure for the pigments which I use is about five-eighths of an inch

page_text: deep and half an inch in diameter; three or four of which I find about sufficient
for six ounces of the collodion.
I now proceed to describe the way in which I utilize my Invention :-So far as
the autotype procedure goes I follow it up to the point when the tissue-developed
picture has been fixed with the alum water, washed, and allowed to dry. This may
be gradually bastened. The preliminary wax had better not be rubbed off too much
so long as it is smooth. The alum-fixed picture having been washed and dried, is
flowed with the colored collodion, as above described, and having been allowed
fairly to set (which takes a very short time), the plate is plunged into cold water,
where I leave it for a few minutes. Meantime the transfer paper (white) is pre-
pared, and when ready the treatment proceeds as usual. It is preferable to allow
the picture to dry spontaneously in a warm room, and it should be put under a
moderately heavy pressure, as usual, previous to drying. The proceedings are in
fact precisely similar to the autotype double transfer processes, with the exception
of the flowing the alum-fixed picture with the colored inmedium previous to
transfer.
I proceed to add some ideas which have arisen in the course of my experiments:―
As above stated there are other mediums which may be used in the processes, but
they are aqueous, and as such I do not recommend them; for instance, albumen,
gum, gelatine, &c. They take long to dry, and the after washing removes part of
the colour, the consequence being that they dry very unevenly. They do not pro-
perly hold pigments in the same inanner that the cotton in collodion does, and I
therefore prefer the latter for the purpose required.
I have found that dies cannot be depended upon, as they change color in the
process of washing to a great extent. According to my process the dry color
thoroughly amalgamated with the film of the pyroxiline is held by it, so that it can
be put into water, and kept there for any reasonable time, without any change of
tint. If, therefore, ordinary care be taken in the original preparation, there ought
to be no variation in the final results. I do not doubt but that those using the
Patent may find it capable of considerable modifications as regards the variation of
colors in the same picture by means of masks, &c., but as I do not believe that this
can be done to advantage I refrain from recommending it.
In the mixing of some colors I use large quantities of white (principally zinc),
thereby producing a body colour, and enabling me to produce any tint required.
Some colours I use pure, green oxide of chromium, umbers, seinnas, and others, but
all may be mixed with white, except when used with the first, or, rather, only
collodion. Black I do not use to any great extent, and principally for moon-
light or mourning colours. It may however be used for other shades of other
colours.
The numerous shades of tissue paper, purples, red, brown, black, &c., to be pro-
cured in the market enable, or may enable, the artist to combine almost any two
colours, the one-representing the image of the picture, and the other the background,
either in harmony or contrast: There is an unlimited field for a display of taste. I
generally filter my plain collodion through a proper filter, and then add the pigment.
After standing I stir up the deposit of pigment, should there be any, with a glass
rod and thoroughly shake before use. I find no loss in proceeding thus. If the
collodion is too thick I add ether and alcohol; if too thin, more pyroxiline; if the
colour is too pale, more pigment.
I sometimes, though rarely, pour coloured collodion on the waxed surface of the
plate instead of plain collodion, but I find this a very delicate operation. The plain
collodion must be only slightly tinted with a few drops of the coloured collodion
above described, otherwise there will be veil over the image, and those colours
known as transparent are only used, and in small quantities, but great care and
judgment are required. No body colour, that is, colour mixed with white can be
used. Prints thus treated should be permanent, which is not the case with dyes,
neither will the pigment be washed out in the course of manipulation, so that the
tint remains as intended. I find all aqueous solutions used as mediums uncertain,

page_text: and the colour added to them is more or less washed out in the various operations.
I believe that the fibrous pyroxiline with collodion, if allowed to dry sufficiently,
holds the dry pigments, the same having been thoroughly incorporated with it, and
that to a great extent the colored film so formed is uninjured by water. This, so
far as my experience goes, is not the case as regards fluid dyes, or any mode of
colouring soluble in water. After the print has been allowed to dry, and has been
stripped from the glass, it may be at once plunged into cold water and left there for
a few minutes. It can then be nearly dried between blotting paper, and while still
damp at once be mounted. The wetting of the print reduces the high gloss and
produces a semi-matt surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the said Invention of "Improvements in
Chromotype and Autotype Photographic Printing, and Coloring or Tinting the
same," substantially as herein-before set forth and described, consisting in the
manner of mixing pigments thoroughly levigated with a collodion, such collodion so
colored, according to taste or requirement, to be applied as an addition or improve-
ment to the autotype or chromotype process, according to the double transfer
system, the coloured collodion being poured on the developed, alum-fixed, washed,
and dried plate previous to transfer, my principle being that the collodion cotton
film impregnated with dry pigment and properly set will retain the desired colour
notwithstanding the requisite washings, whereas aqueous solutions of any kind will
not do so, as far as my experience extends.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir Thomas George Augustus Parkyns, Bart.,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
C. J. WITCOMB,
10, Catherine Street,
Salisbury,
Photographer.
T. G. A. PARKYNS. (L.S.)