=The “Powder” Process.=—Take, instead of gelatine, a solution of
gum arabic and sugar, to which is added a solution of bichromate of
potassium or ammonium. With this a glass plate is coated, dried, and
exposed under a negative, if it be desired to produce a negative; or,
if a positive be desired, the exposure must be made under a positive.
After a short exposure the plate is dusted over with a powder in an
extremely fine state of division, such as graphite if for negatives; if
for burnt-in enamels, a specially-prepared enamel, ground extremely
fine, must be used. Such powders will only adhere to the plate in
exact proportion to the action of the light during the exposure in the
printing frame, and a reversed copy of the original will be produced.
=Collotype and Glasstype.=[E]—In these processes the printing depends
upon the property possessed by the bichromated gelatine film, which has
been properly exposed under a negative, of absorbing water in varying
proportions, in exact accord with, but in inverse ratio to, the action
of the light. The application of a roller charged with fatty ink of a
suitable consistency, will deposit upon the gelatine surface a layer
of ink in exact proportion to the action of the light and in inverse
proportion to the amount of water absorbed by the film. In this manner
a picture is produced in ink which by printing is transferred to paper,
and will exhibit all—even the finest—gradations of light and shade.
[E] Glasstype, more fully described later on, has never been practised
commercially in England.
=Woodburytype.=—If an especially thick film of gelatine, containing a
small proportion of pigment, be sensitised, exposed under a negative,
and subjected to prolonged soaking in warm water, a picture exhibiting
considerable relief will be obtained, which, after drying, may, by
pressing into lead or treated by the galvanoplastic method, yield
a matrix from which casts may be produced in a coloured gelatine
solution, or ink, which is poured into the mould; on this is placed
a waterproof paper; the press, which is of special construction, is
closed, and the ink allowed to set; the paper is then removed, bearing
upon its surface the printed Woodburytype, which is hardened by alum,
and then scarcely distinguishable from a silver print.
=Stannotype= is a modification of the last-described process by the
same inventor. A positive is first produced from the original negative,
and from the positive a print is made on a thick gelatine tissue. This
is developed by long washing in warm water, the resulting relief being
a negative; this is coated with tinfoil of extreme thinness, and used
as a mould for printing from with the gelatine ink, as previously
described. This obviates the use of hydraulic pressure and special and
expensive appliances.
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