covered. Said process consists in first thoroughly moistening or saturating a sheet which is to be coated, which I do preferably by immersion in suitable fluid, which may be cold or heated, according as one or the other condition is best adapted to produce the desired effect; then, in depositing the dampened sheet on a level table, and by suitable manipulation causing the sheet on its under side to come into contact with the upper surface of the table, by expressing air and any free fluid from between the sheet and table; and also, where found necessary, removing superfluous fluid from the upper surface of the sheet, by application thereunto of bibulous paper, or other suitable absorber or remover; and finally, in applying to the upper surface of the sheet, when in the condition produced by the second operation, a fluid material, or a fluid solution of the material or of the mixture, with which the said surface is to be coated. In practice the level table top should be made of substances not changeable in form on the application of fluid, and glass, slate, marble, or metal may be used, though I prefer glass.
“In applying the solution, which, upon drying, forms the desired coating of the sheet, and where the solution is of such a nature that but a small quantity will leave or deposit the requisite coating, I proceed in the manner of water-color artists when laying broad washes of flat tints. But when a considerable quantity or depth of fluid is required to make the desired coating, I then make use of such a frame as paper-makers term a deckle (the bottom of which may be faced with rubber), placing it on the top of the table around the paper, the edges of which the inside of the frame nearly touches. I then pour on the paper a suitable quantity of solution, which gravitates into uniform depth on the paper, it being prevented from flowing off from the paper by the deckle. In some cases the distribution of solution may be aided by the operator's use of a brush.
“In applying the solution use may be made of a reservoir, caused to traverse over the table, and delivering the solution uniformly over the breadth of the sheet while so passing; and, if desired, the solution may be made to flow into or upon a brush attached to said reservoir, and coming into contact with the sheet, while the amount of the solution delivered may be made to depend upon a suitable valvular arrangement, and the speed with which the reservoir is moved. With this reservoir may be employed the deckle, especially if considerable depth of solution is to be left upon the surface of the sheet.
