The Preparation of Illustrations for Reports of the United States Geological Survey: With Brief Descriptions of Processes of ReproductionRidgway, John L.
Science
The Preparation of Illustrations for Reports of the United States Geological Survey: With Brief Descriptions of Processes of Reproduction
Ridgway, John L.
Illustration of books
Photographs of specimens, particularly fossils that have been coated
to destroy local color, should be printed on velox paper, in a tone
somewhat lighter than that of ordinary photographs. The details and
relief should, however, be strong enough to enable the draftsman to
see them clearly, so that by retouching them and strengthening the
shadows and high lights he can make them sufficiently strong for
reproduction. This he can do by a combination of pencil and brush
work, the pencil being used sparingly because the gloss produced by
the graphite is likely to affect reproduction. A No. 3 Winsor &
Newton's red sable brush and lampblack are preferable for the greater
part of this work, and a 4H and a 6H pencil for the fine details and
as a possible aid in producing the finer gradations of shading. The
details should be retouched or strengthened under a reading glass to
insure accuracy; the broader effects can be best produced without the
aid of a magnifier.
Erasures on photographs of specimens should be made very carefully
with a hard rubber that is free from sand, and the parts not to be
disturbed should be protected with a shield. High lights may be added
by carefully scraping or rubbing the surface of the paper.
LANDSCAPE DRAWINGS FROM POOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
A poor photograph or one that has become injured and can not be
retouched for direct reproduction can be utilized by making from it,
as described below, a pen drawing or a brush or crayon drawing, which
will be almost photographically correct.
PEN DRAWINGS MADE OVER PHOTOGRAPHS.
A pen and ink drawing may be made over a blue print or a bromide print
(preferably a blue print) and the photographic image then bleached
out. The blue print should be larger than publication size and should
not be so dark that the draftsman can not see his lines. If the
negative is available a bromide enlargement can be obtained; otherwise
the picture should be rephotographed in larger size, preferably twice
publication size. The enlargement will give the draftsman greater
freedom in drawing details and will make his work appear finer and
better in the reduced illustration. If the photographic print is of a
subject requiring the use of instruments it should be securely
fastened to a drawing board, square with the board, so that any
horizontal and vertical lines in it may be ruled by the use of a =T=
square and triangle. For specimen or landscape work it need not be
fastened.
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