Clichés from Photographs.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1887
Complete Left, 22nd Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
Clichés from Photographs.
We, JOHANN BARTOS of Wittingan Bohemia Austria, photographor, and HERMANN
KÜHN of I Operngasse 4, Vienna, Austria, merchant, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention, a polished metal plate is coated with a thin layer of a
suitable varnish, such as shellac or asphaltum, and upon this layer of varnish a pig-
ment photograph is applied. This pellicle, the thickness of which changes according
to the depth of the half tints of the image thereon, is afterwards treated in the usual
manner with alum and glycerine in order to render it insoluble and to prevent it from
becoming brittle; any surplus glycerine is then removed. Against the soft relief
image thus prepared, sand is thrown by means of a sand thrower or blast, the sand
gradually destroying the pellicle, the thinnest portions first and afterwards the thicker
ones, affecting at the same time the underlying layer of varnish to a proportionate
degree. When afterwards the remainder of the destroyed pellicle is removed from
the varnished metal plate, a grained picture will be shewn, and by etching the plate
with an acid, the picture may be engraved into the metal plate. When a positive
photograph is applied to the metal plate, a relief cliché will be obtained, whilst negative
photographs give intaglio clichés.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improved Process for Producing Grained Relief and Intaglio
Clichés from Photographs.
We, JOHANN BARTOS of Wittingan, Bohemia, Austria, Photographer, and HERMANN
KÜHN of Operngasse 4, Vienna, Austria, Merchant 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 :-
According to this invention, a polished metal plate is coated with a thin layer of a
suitable varnish, such as shellac or asphaltum, and upon this layer of varnish a pig-
ment-photograph is applied. This pellicle, the thickness of which changes according
to the depth of the half-tints of the image thereon, is afterwards treated in the usual
manner with alum and glycerine in order to render it insoluble and to prevent it from
becoming brittle; any surplus glycerine is then removed. Against the soft relief
image thus prepared, sand is thrown by means of a sand thrower, the sand gradually
destroying the pellicle, the thinnest portions first and afterwards the thicker ones,
affecting at the same time the underlying layer of varnish to a proportionate degree.
When afterwards the remainder of the destroyed pellicle is removed from the varnished
metal plate, a grained picture will be shewn, and by etching the plate with an acid,
the picture may be engraved into the metal plate. When a positive photograph is
applied to the metal plate, a relief cliché will be obtained, whilst negative photographs
give intaglio clichés.
In carrying this invention into practice thoroughly polished zinc or brass plates
may be used with advantage, and a varnish consisting of a solution of 1 part by
weight of gum-mastic and 2 parts by weight of shellac in 100 parts by weight of
alcohol will be found to give good results. In order to render the varnish coating
well visible, a small quantity of an aniline-dye is added to the aforesaid solution, which
is applied by pouring it over the horizontal metal plate. A solution of 2 parts by
weight of asphaltum in 10 parts by weight of chloroform, to which afterwards
30 parts by weight of benzine are added will also do well.
As soon as the varnish upon the metal plate is dried, the photographic pigment
picture, which is obtained in a well known way, may be transferred to the said plate,
whereupon the portions of the picture, which have not been acted upon by the light,
and which in consequence have remained soluble, are washed out with warm water, in
order to develop the picture. The next procedure consists in treating the dried
pellicle with a solution of glycerine and alum, whereby the same is tanned, that is
to say, the thin layer of glue is converted into a leather like substance, and at
For this
the same time it is safeguarded against becoming dried and fissured.
purpose there may be used to advantage a solution of 2 parts by weight of alum
and 35 parts by weight of glycerine in 25 parts by weight of water. This liquid
is poured upon the pigment picture and afterwards this latter is dried with the aid
of blotting paper.

page_text: Thus prepared, the plate is subjected to the action of sand thrown against it, with
the effect of gradually destroying, in the order of their increasing thicknesses all
portions of the picture except the thickest ones. As soon as any portion of the
picture is destroyed, the varnish coating beneath the said portion is then attacked.
The stream of sand may be projected by means of a revolving fan wheel, upon
which sand is continually allowed to drop.
When the destruction of the pigment picture has been carried to a sufficient extent,
the remainder of the said picture is washed, with the aid of water, from the varnish
coating, on which, then, there appears a reproduction of the picture with all its details,
formed by a great number of very small perforations of the layer of varnish.
Finally the plate is etched in the usual manner, and after the varnish coating has
been removed by means of a suitable solvent; prints may be immediately taken from
the plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The method substantially as hereinabove described of producing grained relief
and intaglio clichés from photographs, this method consisting in applying a pigment-
photograph upon a smooth plate of suitable material, and afterwards gradually
destroying the pellicle by means of sand thrown against it, which sand also affects
the underlying plate.
2. The method substantially as hereinabove described of producing grained relief
and intaglio clichés from photographs, this method consisting in applying a pigment-
photograph upon a polished metal plate coated with a layer of varnish, afterwards
gradually destroying the pellicle by means of sand thrown against it, the underlying
layer of varnish being also perforated by the grains of sand, and finally etching the
metal plate and removing the varnish.