If this experiment is to succeed, it is to be noted that in grinding
there must be no trace of fat on the stone or the pumice, because the
rubbing during grinding might transfer this greasiness to those parts of
the stone that are to remain white. Care must be taken, also, not to
press too hard in applying the etching color, because the places that
have been cleansed of all gum by the water, and thus are inclined to
accept color, will smut easily. Finally, the stone must not be permitted
to dry before it is fully prepared again by etching and gum coating, for
it might easily become entirely smutted and useless.
This experiment leads to the conclusion, which has been proved correct
in many ways, that a soft rubbing in clean water with printing-color,
especially if it contains tallow, is very well adapted for transforming
the incomplete preparation into a condition of accepting fat perfectly,
and of giving injured places new potency. Also, that the contrary
effect can be produced by violent rubbing, especially with wool,
leather, or tough colors, because this prepares the wet stone and makes
it useless for accepting fat. The first method may be used with
advantage, therefore, for reëstablishing a vanished design. The second
method is good for getting rid of smut. If the smut has occurred in
previously clean and thoroughly prepared places, it can be destroyed
entirely. But if it is only that the deeper fat has lost its superficial
polish, and has appeared again, the stone will be only partially
prepared by this last method and must be newly prepared on the desired
places with weak etching-fluid and gum, for durability's sake. It is
easy to see how important this circumstance is. With the one and the
same process in various degrees of manipulation, opposite results can be
produced; and I may declare that only he is to be termed a perfect
lithographer who has exact knowledge of this especial matter.
(5) It has been mentioned already that every sort of preparation can be
destroyed by a renewed etching, and particularly with alum and citric
acid. The same is caused by soap and alkaline compositions; therefore
also by chemical ink if it contains a sufficient amount of alkali.
(6) Simply letting the stone plate rest produces important, often
contradictory, phenomena. If smeared parts refuse color, clean water
poured over these places runs from them as quickly as it does from the
fatty parts. This is the surest sign that they still have fat, though it
is not sufficient to attract the color. If such a stone is permitted to
lie idle a few days, even if coated with gum, it will often take the
color thereafter. On the contrary, if a stone plate has taken on color
at the well-prepared places (usually readily removable by wiping with
oil of turpentine and gum solution, but generally reappearing), it need
merely be inked after such cleansing, coated with gum and left idle, and
in a few days it loses the readiness to take dirt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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