DOI issue:
No. 2 (May, 1893)
DOI article:Drawing for reproduction by process: outline work and tint boards
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17188#0088
Drawing for Reproduction
vour being to give a nice clean-looking result,
rather than to reproduce the actual work of the
artist.
A glance at the papers where this cheap process
is in vogue will explain a good deal. There is a
high average of mechanical work, well drawn, but
with a line devoid of the slightest artistic expres-
sion, unsuggestive of either form, texture or colour,
amounting to what one might almost term the
skilful evasion of nearly every artistic quality. But
this work reproduces well; whereas a drawing that
possesses those qualities of workmanship which I
think desirable, returns from the hands of the
process firm, more or less a collection of ragged
fine lines and black blotches, the despair alike of
artist and engraver. And this is not necessary;
for the ordinary photo-engraver at his ordinary
price can and does give a very Fair reproduction
of this class of work if pressure is put on him ; but
while he can get men to sacrifice themselves artisti-
cally in order that he may reproduce their work
well {i.e., without trouble), he is scarcely likely to
take an affectionate interest in other kinds of work.
I have been shown scores of drawings by these
cheap photo-engravers that have had the quality
necessary for a good reproduction, and I can con-
scientiously say that it was the only quality they
possessed, and that I have never seen a single
artistic pen-and-ink drawing which an ordinary
photo-engraver considered suitable for process.
His ideal seems to be an engineer's drawing,
which, although excellent in its own line, is not, I
think, peculiarly adapted to artistic illustration.
I myself find that if you are unfortunately
obliged to work when not in good form, you will
turn out an indifferent drawing that will reproduce
beautifully ; and working to the requirements of
the cheap process amounts to keeping oneself
under par, and prevents one from taking any really
artistic interest in one's work.
Good process, on the other hand, places absolutely
no restraint whatever on the artist. For such
I have used a line of varying greyness and thick-
ness in some drawings which have been excellently
reproduced by Gillot (at a very moderate price
too), but this was done by retouching by hand,
which causes the difference in price between good
and indifferent process, the latter leaving off where
the former has only commenced. But I am not
asking for this hand-work from the cheap photo-
ox PAPER WITH WHITE DIAGONAL LINES
70
ON PAPER WITH WHITE STRAIGHT LINES
vour being to give a nice clean-looking result,
rather than to reproduce the actual work of the
artist.
A glance at the papers where this cheap process
is in vogue will explain a good deal. There is a
high average of mechanical work, well drawn, but
with a line devoid of the slightest artistic expres-
sion, unsuggestive of either form, texture or colour,
amounting to what one might almost term the
skilful evasion of nearly every artistic quality. But
this work reproduces well; whereas a drawing that
possesses those qualities of workmanship which I
think desirable, returns from the hands of the
process firm, more or less a collection of ragged
fine lines and black blotches, the despair alike of
artist and engraver. And this is not necessary;
for the ordinary photo-engraver at his ordinary
price can and does give a very Fair reproduction
of this class of work if pressure is put on him ; but
while he can get men to sacrifice themselves artisti-
cally in order that he may reproduce their work
well {i.e., without trouble), he is scarcely likely to
take an affectionate interest in other kinds of work.
I have been shown scores of drawings by these
cheap photo-engravers that have had the quality
necessary for a good reproduction, and I can con-
scientiously say that it was the only quality they
possessed, and that I have never seen a single
artistic pen-and-ink drawing which an ordinary
photo-engraver considered suitable for process.
His ideal seems to be an engineer's drawing,
which, although excellent in its own line, is not, I
think, peculiarly adapted to artistic illustration.
I myself find that if you are unfortunately
obliged to work when not in good form, you will
turn out an indifferent drawing that will reproduce
beautifully ; and working to the requirements of
the cheap process amounts to keeping oneself
under par, and prevents one from taking any really
artistic interest in one's work.
Good process, on the other hand, places absolutely
no restraint whatever on the artist. For such
I have used a line of varying greyness and thick-
ness in some drawings which have been excellently
reproduced by Gillot (at a very moderate price
too), but this was done by retouching by hand,
which causes the difference in price between good
and indifferent process, the latter leaving off where
the former has only commenced. But I am not
asking for this hand-work from the cheap photo-
ox PAPER WITH WHITE DIAGONAL LINES
70
ON PAPER WITH WHITE STRAIGHT LINES