Or the features alone, as below:—
The next stage would be to form a head complete; and the following would be suitable for trial. The hair will require a considerable amount of care at first, but by perseverance all difficulties vanish; and when the features can be cut to the satisfaction of the engraver, then a whole face should be tried where no likeness is necessary.
Before attempting any portion of a face, one who is learning should first cut a few simple patterns, such as the following, which would serve as buttons for the mantle which is worn. The tools should be used in the order given for the several processes already mentioned.
The faces below will give an idea of the effect produced by the process of “roughing;” and the same face when finished off.
Roughed. Finished.
The depth of white upon a piece of shell is insufficient to cut a face in relief, except for very small heads, which would be quite beyond the skill of a beginner. There is a beauty as well as character in the profile completely lost in the full face; yet photographers are greatly disinclined to make a carte-de-visite of the profile.