Page:TheAmericanCarbonManual.djvu/25

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SWAN'S CARBON PROCESS.

Prior to entering into a detailed description of Mr. Swan's Carbon Process, it may be desirable to place before the reader the specification of the patent in which is stated the essential features of principle and practice combined in the process. It proceeds as follows:

“My invention relates to that manner or style of photographic printing known as carbon or pigment printing. In this style of printing, carbon or other coloring matter is fixed by the action of light passing through a negative, and impinging upon a surface composed of gelatine, or other like substance, colored with carbon or other coloring matter, and made sensitive to light by means of bichromate of potash, or bichromate of ammonia, or other chemical substance having like photographic property; those portions of the colored and sensitive gelatinous surface which are protected from the light by the opaque or semi-opaque portions of the negative, being afterwards washed away by means of water, while the parts made insoluble by light remain, and form a print. This kind of photographic printing, although possessing the advantage of permanency, and affording the means of insuring any required tone or color for the print, has not come into general use, because of the difficulties hitherto experienced in obtaining by it delicacy of detail, and complete gradation of light and shade.

“The difficulties referred to were more particularly experienced in attempts to employ paper coated with the colored gelatinous materials, and arose from the fact, that, in order to obtain half-tone, certain portions of the colored coating lying behind or at