Copy for fac-similes of handwriting should be in perfectly black ink, on smooth white paper, written with a full pen, and without use of blotting paper.
TIME.
While we can engrave a plate in a few hours that would occupy a wood-engraver a month, and often do so, yet with the large amount of work constantly on hand and promised, we cannot usually engage to fill an order for a single plate in less than from three to six days; larger orders will, of course, require longer time.
CHANGE OF SIZE.
In reproducing wood-cut prints, the size can often be considerably reduced; but if the reduction is great, the lines become so fine and close together that they will not print well. Coarse wood-cuts, such as are generally used in Newspapers, may often be reduced to half their linear dimensions, but fine wood-cuts will admit of but little reduction.
Most steel plate prints and lithographs will not admit of any reduction, and even when reproduced, the same size in relief, require considerable care in printing.
All kinds of prints generally look bad when much enlarged, as the lines become very coarse and ragged on the edges; though we have sometimes made very effective cuts for posters and hand-bills in this way.
In all cases of enlargement and reduction the relative proportions remain the same.
It must not be forgotten, however, that by redrawing, prints of any kind can be enlarged or reduced to any desired size.