COLORING PHOTOGRAPHS.
A very simple and easy way to color photographs, and one by which a person with little or no knowledge of painting can produce quite pleasing effects, is called the "Hallotype," from the name of the inventor, Mr. J. B. Hall.
The process consists in printing two paper positives from the same negative, rendering one transparent by the use of dammar varnish, and painting the other, and placing the transparent print over the painted one, and fastening them securely between two plates of glass.
To render the print transparent, after it has been toned and dried, lay it face down on a sheet of glass, and varnish with dammar varnish. This varnish can be bought ready prepared, or may be made of one ounce of dammar-gum dissolved in two ounces of spirits of turpentine. If one coat does not make the print transparent enough, apply a second when the first is dry. Be careful that the print, when drying, does not stick to the glass.
Another way to make the print transparent is to apply the print to glass, and remove the paper, leaving the film on the glass. To do this take a spoiled negative or piece of clear glass, clean it thoroughly, and polish it with French chalk to remove all trace of grease. Varnish the glass with varnish made of one ounce of balsam of fir and two ounces of spirits of turpentine. As soon as the varnish begins to set, take the print, which must be thoroughly wet, blot off the moisture from the face with clean blotting-paper, and place the print face down on the glass. Roll down smoothly with a squeegee, taking care that no air-blisters remain between the print and the glass. The paper can now be removed by rubbing it gently with the fingers, moistening it with a wet sponge as it dries. When the paper is removed, varnish the film and set it away to dry.
The other print is now to be colored. For this one may use either oil or water-colors. If water-colors are used, they should be mixed with Chinese white to give them body. The paints are applied roughly, the only care being necessary is to follow the outlines of the objects, and to use appropriate colors. The result will be a daub without any special form.
When the colors are dry place the print under the transparent picture, matching the outlines of the two pictures perfectly. If the print has been rendered transparent by varnishing, it is best to attach it to a glass by pasting it at the corners before fitting the colored print over it. Back the two prints with a piece of thin white card-board, and place another glass back of the paste-board. Bind the glasses with a strip of adhesive paper, such as is used for binding lantern slides, and then frame or finish in any way desired.
If the film has been transferred to glass, a pretty way to finish the picture after the painted print has been fitted to it, and the glasses bound together, is to take gilt paper and cut an opening of a size to correspond with the picture, and place it over the face of the picture like a mat. Put another piece of plain paper over this and fasten to the picture. The picture may either be framed or bound with ribbon.
This is a good way to use up spoiled plates, and after a little practice one can make very good colored pictures.
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