Improvements in the Production of Photographic Portraits.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Photographic Portraits.
I, WILLIAM DAVEY, of 66, Truro Road, Wood Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me by Frank Davey, of 121, Post Street, San Francisco,
Photographer,) to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to increase the life-like appearance of photo-
graphic portraits by modelling or embossing the features, figure, dress, and
accessories in bas-relief.
In order to produce such a portrait in relief, I transfer a carbon print made
from the same negative on to a wood block suitably prepared and then carve the
portrait in intaglio, and produce therefrom a counterpart or "force" of suitable
easily-moulded material, or by electrotyping. The print having been damped is
subjected to pressure between the carved die and its counterpart, due precautions
being taken to ensure correct register.
Dated October 25th 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in the Production of Photographic Portraits.
I, WILLIAM DAVEY of 66, Truro Road, Wood Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me by Frank Davey of 121, Post Street, San Francisco,
Photographer,) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to increase the life-like appearance of photo-
graphic portraits by embossing the parts of the print corresponding to the
features, figure, dress, and accessories, in bas-relief so that the effect of the
photographic high lights half-tones and shadows will be enhanced by actual
modelling of the surface of the photograph.
In order to emboss a portrait I either produce directly upon a suitably prepared
wood block a photographic print from a transparency which has been made from
the same negative as the print to be embossed, or 1 transfer to the wood block a
collodion film or a single transfer carbon print, or a thin gelatine film, or a traced
outline from the same negative or from a print produced from the same negative,
the object in any case being to produce upon the block a more or less perfect
outline of the portions of the portrait to be embossed, the relative position of the
parts being reversed as regards right and left to serve as a guide to the carver in
the subsequent operation. I then carve the wood block so as to produce an
approximately correct counterpart in intaglio (reversed as regards right and
left) of the features and other portions of the picture to be embossed, the depth
of the carving being approximately proportional to the natural relief and
rotundity of the parts of the subject represented.
The photograph print to be embossed having been mounted upon a thick soft

page_text: paper which will adapt itself readily to the die and permit of embossing in relief
without splitting, is generally damped before being embossed especially if the
relief is to be considerable except in the case of carbon and gelatine prints
which would be liable to adhere to the die if damped and must therefore be
embossed dry.
The mounted print is then subjected to pressure in a screw or other press
between the carved die and a soft rubber pad or a counterpart in cameo, the face
of the print being in contact with the intaglio die and due precautions being taken
to ensure correct register between the die and the photograph. With this object
in view I trace an outline from the negative and apply it in correct register to
the die and drive register pins through the tracing into the marginal portions of
the dic. I then remove the tracing and apply it in correct register to the print
and perforate the print through the holes in the tracing. The mounted and
perforated print is then placed on the die, the pins coming through the perforations
keeping the print in proper register.
The counterpart in cameo may be an easily mouldable material such as paper-
pulp or a pad of soft elastic indiarubber which adapts itself to the configuration of
the die at each pressure and may serve for dies of different forms. In order to
obtain a perfect impression of the die, the print may be first pressed with a soft
pad such as referred to, and then subjected to a second pressure between the same
die and a counterpart formed of gutta-percha which has previously received the
impression of the die in the press. The print should be left under pressure for
about ten minutes or (especially if pressed dry) until it has permanently acquired
the configuration of the die, and after being removed from the press it should be
mounted in a deep passe partout or other frame which will protect the relief
surface of the print from injury. It is also preferable to back up the embossed
parts of the print with cotton-wool and to mount it on a stout cardboard backing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The herein described method of embossing photographic prints in relief by
pressure between a correspondingly carved die and a suitable pad or counterpart,
as specified.
2. A. photographic print embossed or modelled in relief substantially as
specified.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.