proper line were suitably relocated the two component colors were correspondingly readjusted on the color-wheel and each faulty disk corrected (or a new one painted) until it exactly matched the required combination. The scales representing the tints and shades of each color, and also the gray or broken colors were similarly determined by corrected curves.[1]
By the method adopted of running each of the thirty-six spectrum hues through a scale of tints and shades, and repeating the combination through several series modified by increasing increments of neutral gray, practically the entire possible range of color variation is covered,[2] rendering it an easy matter to locate in the plates, either among the colors actually shown or in an intermediate space, any color which it is desired to match; and where short distinctive names have not been found (their place being, tentatively, supplied by compound names), as, necessarily, must often be the case, any color or intermediate between any two colors, either as to hue, tint, or shade, may be readily designated by the very simple system of symbols (numerals and letters) employed.[3]
In order to designate any color for which a satisfactory name cannot be found, or one not represented on the plates, it is only necessary to proceed as follows: Suppose the color in question is nearest 1 on Plate I; say, for example, is intermediate in hue between 1 (spectrum red) and 3 (scarlet-red), or in other words if represented in color its position would be in the uncol-
- ↑ The percentages are given in tables on pages 23 and 25.
- ↑ That is to say, theoretically. Unfortunately it seems to be beyond the colorists' skill to reproduce true shades of the pure colors, all showing a more or less decided admixture of gray, resulting in a series of broken or dull shades. (See pages 23 and 24.)
- ↑ Although only 1115 different colors are actually shown on the plates the system is really equivalent to the presentation of considerably more than 4000 distinguishable and designatable colors.
