When applied to china, porcelain or other similar substances, it may be freely washed with warm water without injury, and is in every respect as durable as oil painting.
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Materials.
The necessary materials are as follows: cementing varnish, protecting varnish, two or three camel’s hair brushes of various sizes, (these should be of fine quality, as the cheaper ones never have good points), a glass of clear water, a small vial of benzine or burning fluid for cleaning the varnish brushes; and be careful and procure suitably prepared pictures.
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Directions.
First, with a fine brush, apply the cementing varnish to every part of the picture, following the outline neatly without running over on the white paper. After applying the varnish let it dry a minute, then, holding the picture to the light, take a larger brush and dampen the back with water, being careful to wet the size of the design only. Before the picture has time to expand much, apply the picture to the article to be ornamented, firmly pressing every part; dampen again with water, after which remove the paper. To remove the paper, commence at one corner and carefully raise it, keeping close watch that none of the design adheres to the paper. If a piece, however small, is seen attached to the paper, immediately replace the paper and again press that part to the article and perhaps dampen a little more. Having entirely removed the paper, draw a damp cloth smoothly over the finger and firmly press every part, using great care that no air bubbles remain under the large surfaces. The day after the transfer, carefully wash the design with cold water, and when perfectly dry, lightly apply the protecting varnish to the design. The above directions are strictly applicable to ornamenting only such articles as can be washed.
In ornamenting any delicate substance, such as silk, great care must be observed in dampening the back, in order to dampen only the exact size of the design; as, if the preparation on the paper is dampened around the picture, it will soil the silk. Of course the washing above mentioned must be omitted; and oftentimes the varnishing may also be omitted to advantage, as its object is simply to render the painting more durable, where it is to be subjected to use or exposed to the weather.
In order to avoid soiling delicate substances, some persons have adopted the following expedients:—After applying the cementing varnish to the picture, and before dampening the back, take the water brush, and thoroughly wet the face of the paper all around the design. This will soften the preparation, which may be removed by carefully touching the surface with a wet cloth. The cloth, being wet, will not stick to the varnish if it comes in contact with it. After this operation, the process is the same as before described, except that some of the fine parts near the edge may require retouching with the cementing varnish.
For ornamenting any dark substances, such as black silk or a rosewood box, the picture is differently prepared. After the picture has been printed in all its colors, the whole design is entirely covered with gold leaf or a preparation of white lead, which is merely to give the picture its proper effect, by preventing the dark surface from showing through, which it would do at every light part were it not for this backing. But if it is desirable to use some pictures not backed on a dark ground, it may be done by covering the design with a preparation of fine white lead, called white grounding. The grounding must be allowed to dry, and then the process is the same as before. In applying your pictures to any article, face the light, and, holding the picture before you, the design can be seen from the back, and thus correctly placed in position.