JMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO THE COLORING OF PHOTOGRAPHS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Clayton Mewburn at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th April 1880. A communication
from abroad by Léon Favre, of Paris, France.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer.
"JMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO THE
COLORING OF PHOTOGRAPHS." [A communication from abroad by Léon Favre, of
Paris, France.]
The various attempts hitherto made, whether under the name of photo-chromy
helio-chromy, or others, to effect the coloring of photographic pictures have not led
to satisfactory results. This may be attributed to the dull appearance which
photographs colored by these processes possess. Now the object of the present
Invention is to produce colored photographs which shall have the vividness of tone
and the clearness of oil paintings.
According to this Invention I take as the support for the photograph to be
colored a plate of glass or crystal instead of the sheet of paper or cloth hitherto
employed. The picture is a positive carbon picture obtained with the aid of an
ordinary negative plate, and it is on the back of this positive picture that I apply
with the aid of a brush the colors which the subject requires. This application of
color is performed under special conditions and with special precautions, which are
hereinafter explained.
It is unnecessary to describe how to transfer to glass a positive carbon proof
obtained from a negative plate as the operation is familiar to most photographers.
Supposing the picture is the figure of a female; to the back of the bichromatized
sheet which carries it, and guided by the transparency of the glass; which shews all
the outlines and details of the picture, I begin by giving some touches to the most
prominent points; thus I give a touch of the brush in white to the teeth, I color
the lips red, and the corners of the eyes rose. From the face I pass to the neck
and hands, and I color with yellow the rings and other jewellery. Lastly, I give
the desired color to the bright ornaments of the dress and of the rest of the
clothing, and I do the same for the surroundings and the back ground of the
picture.
After having applied theso colors I spread over them a layer of gelatine or
collodion, or a suitable varnish. The object of this layer is to protect the sheet of
gelatine bearing the picture from the colors afterwards applied, and to serve as a

page_text: support thereto. The delicato and light colors come first, such as the flesh tints on
the face, neck, arms, and hands; then the lighter shades of the dress and surroundings,
and finally, always guided by the transparency of the picture, I apply the darker
or deeper shades. Owing to the order thus adopted all the clearness of the outlines
is sure to be retained, because on account of the opacity of the colors, those that
are applied last cannot shew at the parts where they may happen to cover the
lighter tints.
The colors which it is preferred to use for the purpose of this Invention, are
made with essenco of spirit so as to dry more quickly; oil or other colors may
however be employed.
Tho glass being perfectly translucid the colors shew through with all their
brilliancy and strength. There is therefore obtained by means of this Invention a
vividness and intensity of color which have not hitherto been obtained in colored
photographs.