Make a strong size of the above by boiling the gelatine and isinglass with a little water. Mix the gamboge and flake white with a little warm water, and add the mixture to the gelatine solution. This composition must be applied to the paper while still quite warm, as it forms into a comparatively stiff jelly while cooling. This paper should be transferred to warm stones.

Copperplate transfer paper is to some extent a development of the variety just described; that is, if the conditions under which such transfers are made will bear comparison with operations of an essentially different character.

The composition used for coating copperplate transfer paper must possess a somewhat heavy body, and for this reason plaster of paris enters into its composition, which is as follows:—

Plaster of paris2 lb.
Flake white1 lb.
Flour2 lb.
Fish glue¼ lb.
Alum1 oz.

Soak the alum and glue from 8 to 10 hours, and then boil them until they are dissolved. Make the flour into a smooth paste by the addition of a little water, and mix it with the flake white. Mix the plaster of paris with water, and stir continuously until it becomes incapable of setting. Add the other ingredients, already mixed, and see that they become thoroughly incorporated with the plaster of paris, after which coat the paper twice with the mixture.

The following may be substituted for the above:—

Plaster of paris2 lb.
Flour2 lb.
Gelatine4 oz.

A transfer paper with its surface granulated to represent a mechanical stipple, or the texture of a grained stone, may be prepared in the following manner. Take of:—

Starch9 oz.
Parchment chippings12 oz.
Flake white14 oz.

Prepare the starch as previously described, and dissolve the isinglass by boiling. Mix the flake white into a thin paste by the addition of water. Warm the three ingredients, and mix the whole thoroughly. Coat a fairly heavy printing paper twice with this composition, and when it is thoroughly dry give it the required granulation by means of grained stones or engraved plates. The grain thus imparted breaks up the drawing into a series of minute dots. Paper of this description is most suitable for pencil or crayon work. Its usefulness is obvious. It enables the artist to use his chalks in the usual manner, without the inconvenience of handling large stones. No graining of the stone is necessary, and the grained effect can be confined to any portion of the design.