An Improved Method of Producing Negatives and Typographic Blooks.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Producing Negatives and Typographic
Blooks.
We CECIL LAURENCE BURNS of Meadow Studios Bushey in the County of
Hertford Artist and WILLIAM MORGAN of Vale Studios Vale Road Bushey
in the said County of Hertford Photo Etcher do hereby declare the nature of this
invention be as follows:-
The object of this invention. is the production of negatives and typographic
blocks for artistic printing purposes securing a perfect picture in half tones of
various depths of tone. To attain this object one side of a level sheet of clear
glass or ground glass or any other transparent medium is covered with black cloths
or black paint or any other dark material & upon the clear level surface of the
glass is executed the drawing or design desired in white lead oil paint or any other
suitable pigment leaving the clear glass or level surface to represent black or deep
shade varying the thickness of paint to represent the half tones of which any depth
can be secured. By the use of any white pigment on a dark ground the full
gradation of tones between black and white is obtained. After allowing the paint
to dry the dark background is removed from the back of the glass & the plate is
washed over or immersed in a diluted solution of sulphorated hydrogen until the
white lead (lead carbonate) turns dark and becomes lead sulphate. This is done
in order to obtain the necessary depth of tone and a direct positive print can be
taken from the plate upon any sensitized substance and by taking an electrotype
from the painted plate either before or after it is washed in the sulphorated
hydrogen a typographic block suitable for printing purposes can be made.
A further means of securing an electrotype for typographic purposes is by
painting substantially in the manner hereinbefore described on a black smooth or
black granulated opaque surface such as copper zinc wood or any other suitable
substance. A perfect mould is thus built up from a level ground which forms the
blacks or darks of the picture the thickness of the paint being varied for the half
tones until pure white is represented.
Dated the 3rd day of April 1895.
CECIL LAURENCE BURNS.
WILLIAM MORGAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Producing Negatives and Typographic
Blocks.
We CECIL LAURENCE BURNS, of Meadow Studios, Bushey, in the County of
Hertford, Artist, and WILLIAM MORGAN, of Vale Studios, Vale Road, Bushey,
in the said County of Hertford, Photo-etcher, 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 object of this invention is the production of negatives and typographic

page_text: blocks for artistic printing purposes, securing a perfect picture in half tones of
various depths of tone. To attain this object one side of a level sheet of clear
glass or ground glass or any other transparent medium is covered with black cloth
or black paint or any other dark material, and upon the clear level surface of the
glass is executed the drawing or design desired in white lead oil paint, or any other
suitable pigment is employed, leaving the clear glass or level surface to represent
black or deep shade, varying the thickness of paint to represent the half tones of
which any depth can be secured. By the use of any white pigment on a dark
ground the full gradation of tones between black and white is obtained. White,
yellow or any other colour of paint through which light can pass can be used.
The object in using a dark or black substance behind the glass is to enable the
artist to more carefully estimate the various tones of his picture from black up to
the highest lights. After allowing the paint to dry the dark background is
removed from the back of the glass and the plate is washed over or immersed in a
diluted solution of sulphuretted hydrogen until the white lead (lead carbonate)
turns dark and becomes lead sulphate. This is done in order to obtain the
Decessary depth of tone, and a direct positive print can be taken from the plate
upon any sensitized substance, and by taking an electrotype from the painted plate,
either before or after it is washed in the sulphuretted hydrogen a typographic
block suitable for printing purposes can be made. It is not always necessary to
wash over or immerse the plate in a diluted solution of sulphuretted hydrogen
except in cases when greater density of negative is required. A further means of
securing an electrotype for typographic purposes is by painting substantially in
the manner hereinbefore described on a black smooth or black granulated opaque
surface such as copper, zinc, wood or any other suitable substance. A perfect
mould is thus built up from a level ground which forms the blacks or darks of the
picture, the thickness of the paint being varied for the half tones until pure white
is represented. By the artist painting his own negative the individuality of each
artist's work is secured without the aid of a photographic leos, and a higher
artistic result secured, when used in combination with any sensitized photographic
printing surface, such as is used in photogravure collotype and heliotype.
A higher and more faithful reproduction of the artist's work is secured because
the various tones of the picture have every touch focussed thus giving the various
values of the work as compared with the great loss in pictures reproduced by
photographic negatives.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The preparation of a painted negative, substantially as described.
2. The method of producing prints by means of painted negatives in combination
with sensitized photographic printing surfaces, substantially as described.
3. In an electrotyping process the employment of a painted negative or painted
opaque surface prepared substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1896.
WILLIAM MORGAN.
CECIL LAURENCE BURNS.