[W] The anastatic process consists in reproducing by zincography a copy of any recently printed matter. The subject for reproduction is moistened on the back with dilute nitric acid. It is then laid face downwards upon a freshly polished sheet of zinc and passed through the press. Printing is then proceeded with as in zincography. A lithographic stone may also be used, if, before laying down the impression, the face is moistened with turpentine, and allowed nearly to dry.
To those unacquainted with carbon printing it may be pointed out that it is a most valuable process, affording great facilities for the reproduction and reversal of negatives for Collotype. A knowledge of the process is here presumed, as it would necessitate too wide a digression to give an ample idea of the many useful applications of this beautiful and permanent method of printing. Very complete instructions will be found in Dr. Leisegang’s “Carbon Process.”[X] As regards the application of this process to lithography, only pictures devoid of half-tone, such as drawings in line and dot or impressions from engravings, are suitable for reproduction by this method, if upon clean paper (not too thick) and printed on one side only. The sensitised tissue may be printed from the original by contact, in the printing frame, instead of producing a negative in the camera by contact upon a dry plate. Should it be decided to print direct from the copy surround the edges of the same with strips of black paper or tinfoil, half-an-inch wide, and in a weakly actinic light. So adjust the ordinary sensitised carbon tissue that its edges are about in the centre of the surrounding strips, care being taken that the edges of the tissue nowhere extend beyond them.
[X] Translated by R. B. Marston, and published by Sampson, Low and Co., Fleet Street, E.C. The “A B C of Pigment Printing,” published by the Autotype Co., Oxford Street, W.C., may also be recommended.
Expose to Daylight for a time, gauging the exposure by means of the actinometer. Probably it will be necessary to print till the 7 shows.
A Finely-polished Stone is dusted and adjusted in a horizontal position, and flowed over with cold water.
The Exposed Tissue is placed in cold water, and allowed to soak till quite limp. It is then placed face downwards upon the wet stone, covered with indiarubber sheeting, and squeegeed into close contact with the stone; allow to remain under pressure for half-an-hour to an hour.
Development is effected by pouring warm water about 100° F. over the back of the exposed tissue. So soon as the colour exudes around the edges of the paper backing, the latter may be removed, and the development proceeded with by continuing to pour warm water over the surface. Only a slight impression should remain—the lines showing the bare stone perfectly clear and clean. Allow the stone to dry in a cool, shady place without the application of artificial heat.
Roll Up with lithographic chalk ink until the surface presents a solid black appearance, stand the stone aside for a few hours to allow the ink to penetrate its surface, and then
Remove the Negative carbon print from the stone by means of a piece of woollen cloth moistened with a thin solution of gum. This takes some time, but it will be found that the fatty ink has penetrated where unprotected by the carbon negative, and has formed a complete positive.
Gum In, etch, and proceed as in ordinary lithographic operations. It cannot be expected that the operation, as conducted above, will produce the finest results; the drawing will usually require a certain amount of retouching at the hands of the lithographic artist, who will, however, often be saved a vast amount of trouble. It is obvious that if the proceedings, as described, be carried out, using, however, a photographic glass positive in place of the printed impression, the process will be found capable of giving much finer results, and the exposure will be very materially decreased.