US1430059A - Color photography - Google Patents

Description

H. (1.1. DEEKS.

COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. APPLICATION FILED luNE 25,1914. Rwfwin Nov. 9.1920.

` 39,059, Patenteasepf. 26,192;

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patented Sept.. 26, lgZZ.

entran stares y Y iastate earner ortica,-

EIRAM C. J'. DREES, 0F SEA OLIFF, NEW YORK, SSIGNOR TO AMERICAN RAYLO COR- PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION F DELAWARE,

COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

Application led .Tune 25, 191e, Serial No. $47,298. Renewed November 9, 1920. Serial No. 422,989.

and useful lnvention in Color Photography,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the method of color-photography in which the photo-I liti graphic record of the object is divided up into two, three or more parts with the aid of suitable color screens and color sensitive plates, and in which color elements or prints are made from the records thus obtained and are superimposed or blended together on white paper or other suitable base, to form a composite picture portraying the original oblect in its true natural colors.

he object of my invention is to produce the several colored elements of which a colored photographic 4print is composed, in purer and more correct hues, and to superimpose and blend them, in a manner simpler, more direct, more accurate and much quicker than has heretofore been possib-le, into a picture possessing the brilliant and beautiful colors seen in nature to a greater extent than heretofore.

Inthe accompanyingr drawings, which dis close apparatus usedimerely for purposes of illustration-Fig. 1 represents a film stretched tightly upon a metal frame and having thereon three photographic element-s containing coloring matter corresponding to the three primary colors; Fig. 2 is ay sectional viewvthereof showing the surface in exaggerated relief; Fig. 3 is a view showing .an apparatus for carrying out my invention and F ig. 4 is a sectional View, on a larger scale, of part of this apparatus.

The preferred application of my invention will be more clearly understood from the following brief outline:

I rst produce, upon Celluloid or other suitable and suitably mounted film, photographic reproductions: of the record negatives, by any of the well known bichromate processes, in which the image is composed of coloring mattei' held in varying amounts by the gelatine, glue or other organic substance employed, proportionately according to the degree in which the said organic'substance, having been previously sensitized as with bichromate,'has been altered by light. The coloring matter which I use in the present vreproduction is ma( e.

darac, in alcohol.

instance has the property of imparting its color to a' recording or permanent film, conveniently a collodion film in an undried state, when brought into contact with the latter. Each of the reproductions respectively is made with a coloring matter which is complementary to'the color screen used with the record ne ative from which the I then` transfer the reproductions thus produced; in the present instance by superimposing them in quick succession, with means for suitab-le pressure and accurate register, upon and into contact with a recording film, preferably a collodion film; the transfer is made after it has become set and before it is dry, and while spread upon White paper or other suitable In carryingout the illustrative form of my invention a desired coloring matter is first prepared in a very fine state of division and which is insoluble in water or other developer-but is soluble in alcohol, ether or other similar solvent. This may be accomplished by dissolving a dyestuff together with a resinous substance, such as gum san- The solution is then sprayed by means of compressed air and a `very small orifice in `any well known or suitable manner, into a closed chamber whereby the solvent is evaporated and the dyed residue falls to the oor of the chamber in the form of a finely' divided colored powder and is readily collected. This coloring matter is preferably prepared in different colors corresponding to the desired number of colors for example the three primary colors which the negativesrecord, by using diffe-rent dyestuii's in the solution. For the magental l use preferably rhodamine, for the blue a mixture of methylene blue and bril liant green and for the yellow auramine.

The several coloring mat-ters are next incorporated with a solution of gelatine in warm water to which has been added a small quantity of suitable matter such as sugar orcorn syrup to prevent crackingof the film when dry. Separate solutions are made of each of the colors.

A sheet of film, such as transparent celluloid, having been previously stretched tightly and fastened in a metal frame of suitable dimensions, or otherwise suitably held, is placed upon a levellin stand and the surface is divided lateral y into the required number of, herein three equal portions and temporarily marked by any suitable means. The warm solution of' gelatine containing the several coloring matters are then fiowed over corresponding portions of the celluloid sheet by pouring thereon the required quantities and spreading evenly with a glass rod. The magenta is spread over one portion, the blue over another and the yellow over the third. The composite film thus produced, after having become se-t and dried, may be kept for a considerable length of time without deterioration and, when required foruse may be sensitized as by immersion in a solution of potassium bichromate and dried in the dark, when it is ready for exposure under' the negative or negatives.

The three negatives for recording the primary colors of the objects are made with selective color screens in any well known or suitable manner and are preferably made upon a single plate and arranged in lateral juxtaposition so that when the plate is placed Y in contact with the Celluloid sheet having tion to thereon the gelatine film containing the coloring matter, the negative which has been made with the green screen will be in posiprint the gelatine containing magenta coloring matter the negativemade with the red screen will be in position to print the gelatine containing blue coloring matter and the negative made with the violet screen wiil be in position to print the gelatine containing yellow coloring matter.

The sensitized composite gela-tine film is then-printed in the usual manner `by placing it behind the negative in a printing frame and exposing it to light with the plain side of the Celluloid against the negative, so that the light, coming through the negative, will pa next through the film and will act first upon the gelatine laying next to the film. After sufficient exposure to light the composite print may be directly developed by immersion inwarm water in the usual manner, when the unaltered gelatine will be washed away leaving upon the film three positive images consisting of insoluble colored gelatine in varyin amounts corresponding to the action 'o the light passed by the negative.

The images produced ulpon the Celluloid as above descrlbed are il ustrated in Fig.

1. 1 represents the metal frame, 2 is the` Celluloid sheet andi3, 4 and 5 are the gelatine images containing respectively yellow, blue and. magenta colouring matter. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken upon the plane of the line A B of Fig. 1, 1 represents the metal frame,2 is the Celluloid sheet and 3, 4 and 5 indicate the insoluble gelatine containing the colouring matter.

To transfer the colors of the three photographic elements thus obtained, upon a filial support, I may use an apparatus illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, in which 6 represents a heavy roller designed to furnish sufficient pressure by means of its weight, riding upon rails 7a and 7b secured to a baseboard 8. The bar 9 is arranged to slide lengthwise between bearings 1()a and 10b secured to the baseboard and carries a frame 11 hinged at 12a and 12b, adapte-d to hold, by blocks 13a, 13", 13c and thumbscrews 14a and 14", the frame 1 holding the Celluloid sheet having thereon the photographic elements. ln the bearing 10b is a movable pin 15 arranged to fit into the holes 16a, 16 and 16c of the slidingbar 9 and lock the latter firmly in place during the operation of transferring. The holes 16a, 16b and 16c are made in the bar 9 at a distance apart to correspond with the distance apart of the photographic elements '3, 4 and 5 on the cellulcid'sheet.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, 17 is a removable block having holes 18l1 and 18b adapted to fit the pins 19a and 19b fastened inthe baseboard 8 and the shape and size of its upper surface corresponds to the shape and size of one of the prints 3, 4 and 5. Block 17 serves to hold temporarily the final support of the picture, which final support may be, for instance. the sheet of white paper which is indicated at 20, having' spread upon its upper surface a film of collodion 21. Block 17 also serves a bed to resist the pressure of the roller 6. The position of the block 17 upon the baseboard 8 is so arranged that when the movable pin 15 held by the bearing 1()b is inserted in the left hand end hole 16d of the sliding bar 9 it will fit exactly under the left hand end print 3.

It will be understood that when the slide 9 is moved along and the. pin 15 is inserted in the holes 16b or 16a, the prints 4 or 5 will come into the correct position opposite the block 17. i

The first step in the operation of this apparatus is to secure the slide 9 in one position by inserting the pin 15 in one of the holes, say 16. The frame 1 holding the Celluloid sheet 2 is then placed on the frame 11 with the side having the gelatine prints face downward and is secured thereto against the blocks 13a, 13b and 13c by the thumbscrews 14a and 14". rllhe frame 11 is next raised lto an upright position from its such as, for instance, a small quantity of sticky glue placed at the corners. The block 17 may then be removed from the baseboard and held in one hand while the paper thereon is coated with collodion `by pourino' on a small quantity and tilting the block to spread and run off the surplus, in the ordinary manner. After a few seconds the collodion will have become set and the block is placedin4 its position on the baseboard. The frame 11 is then lowered so that the colourin matter held by the photographic image wil be brought into contact with the collodion film. A pad 22 composed preferably of resilient material such as. for instance, rubber and of approximately the same size as the paper, is next placed upon the celluloid sheet opposite the block 17. The roller 6 is then made to'run slowly along the rails 7a and7" over the pad 22 and back again to its original position. The pad 22 should be of sufficient thickness so that the roller, in

vpassing over it, will exert an even pressure upon, and force into close contact, the photographic print with the collodion film.

The pad 22 is then removed and the frame 11 is raised to an upright position, when it may be seen that the collodion film has become dyed in exact proportion to the amount of colouring matter, in this case yellow, which 'was held by the photographic print.

rlhe pin 15 is next removed allowing the slide 9 to be moved along until the hole 16 is opposite the hole in bearing 10` and the pin may be inserted therein. The frame l1 is again lowered, the pad placed on the celluloid opposite block 17 and the operation of rolling repeated. Upon raising the frame it may be seen that the collodion has become dyed blue corresponding to the amount of colouring mattei' from the photographic print 4. The blue has, however, become blended with the yellow of the first transfer and the picture appears therefore at this stage a mixture of yellow and blue. The slide-is next moved to itsJfinal position and locked there by inserting pin 15 in the bearing 1C)b through the hole 16. rThe operation with pad and roller is repeated and the frame 11 is raised. This last operation has dyed the picture magenta corresponding to the amount of colouring matter which was held by the photographic print 5.

The picture will now appear complete, having become dyed the three primary colors. rThe paper forming the support of the picture may be removed from block 17 by inserting a knife between it and the block and prying it from the glue which temporarily held it.

A point of real value in this invention is the fact that the action of the sol-vent of the collodion upon ythe ycolouring matter held by the gelatine, when brought into contact with the latter, is to instantly release the l color from the gelatine and transfer it to,

' and dye therewith, the collodion. It will be be retained in an undried state until the nal transfer has been effected.

lt will be clearly understood from the above description that the film of collodion upon the paper support has been dyed as many times as there are 4colors used, herein a three times, first in yellow, forming an exact positive corresponding to the violet record negative, second in blue corresponding to the red record negative and third in magenta corresponding to the green record negative, thus forming a complete heliochrome.

Accurate automatic register of the three colors is assured since the spacing of the' three holes in the slide may be made to correspond exactly with the distance apart of the three negatives and consequently of the three prints made therefrom upon the celluloid sheet and carried by the slide.

The correctness of hue of the three colors required may be readily obtained because the admixture of dyestu's in the sandaracalcohol solution used for making the colouring mattei', may be regulated as desired and any basic dyestuff may be used. l

The brilliance of the colors is assured -though it involves the use of soluble color it renders unnecessary t-he use of dye baths which heretofore were generally required to tint the positive images; among other advantages of the present embodiment of my invention are .first the purity and brilliance of the colors obtainable; secondly blending the several colors in a single film without varying relief or thickness between the col ors as in the dyed gelatine relief and carbon processes; thirdly securing accurate and automatic register of the several coloured photographic elements andv fourthly the quickness and simplicity of obtaining the composite print.

I have described somewhat in detail an illustrative method, embodying my invention, of producing the photographic elements and mechanical arrangements for supporting them and transferring the color from them, that may be employed, but it is understood that my invention is not confined. to these and that various changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of my claims.

I claim l. The method of making a coloured photographic print which consists in dyeing a film containing 'a volatile solvent by bringing it into contact with a photographic element holding a water-insoluble colouringr matter 'soluble in said volatile solvent.

2. The improvement in the art of color photography which consists in producing a colored positive in relief in which coloring matter soluble in collodion is held in suspension in a finely divided condition, and then making a print therefrom on a sheet having a collodion film by pressing the film before it is thoroughly dry into contact with the colored surface of the posi'- tive.

3. The improvement in the art of color photography which, consists in providing a sensitive film containing a pigment which is insoluble in the developer for said film, printing said film from the negative of the picture to be reproduced, developing' said film, and then making a print therefrom by pressing the same into contact With another film containing means to absorb the pigment from the first film.

4. The improvement in the art of color photography which consists in first coloring 'a sensitive film, then printing and developing it inv a developer which will not dissolve the pigment therein, and finally making a print therefrom by pressing the same into contact With another film containin a solvent for the pigment of the first fiiin.

5. The improvement in the art of color photography which consists in providing a sensitive film containing a pigment which is insoluble in Water but soluble in collodion, printing said film from the negative of the picture to be reproduced, developing said film in Water, and'then printing from said film upon a collodion coated sheet by contact before the collodion is thoroughly 6. The 'improvement in the art of color photography which consists in Aproviding a sensitive vfilm having segregated fields each containing a differently colored pigment insoluble in Water but soluble in collodion, producing upon each field of said lm a correspondingly colored positive by printing said film from selective-color negatives and developing, and then making a print from said positives by successively superimposing them upon and pressing them into contact withv a collodion film before the latter is thoroughly dry.

7. The improvement in the art of color photography which consists in providing a sensitive film having segregated fields each containing a differently colored pigment in finely divided suspension and insoluble in the developer for said film, producing upon each field of said film a correspondingly colored positive by printing said film from selective color negatives and developing the same, and then making a print from said positives by successively superimposing them upon and pressing them into contact with another film containing means to absorb the pigment therefrom.

8. The improvement in the art of color photography, which consists in combining a dyestuff vwith a. substance adapted `to protect it from the action of the developer, incorporating the same in' a sensitive film, printing and developing said film, and `subsequently releasing said dyestufi' from the said substance by the action of a suitable solvent; whereby the dyestuffI isunaltered by the action of the developer for the sensitive film but is set free at the proper time to produce the tinting effect required.

9. 'lhe improvement in the art of colo!` photography. which consists in combining a dyestuff with a resinous substance, incor ol rating the same in a sensitive film, printing and developing said film, placing another film containing a. solvent for said resinous substance in contact with the first film, to cause the dyestuff to be transferred from the first film to the other film by the action of said solvent, and separating said films after' such transfer.

10. The improvement in the art of color photography, which consists in combining a dyestuff with a resinous substance, incor orating the same in a sensitive film, printing and developing said film, and placing a collodion film in contact With the first film before the collodion film is thoroughly dry.

1l. The improvement in the art of making colored photographs b v any process in which single-color positives are produced from selective-color negatives and then synthesized into a polychrome composite, which improvement consists in introducing into the positive elements before they are printed a. pigment containing a dyestufi" and a substance to protect the dyestufi from the action of the developer.

12. The improvement in the art of making colored photographs by any process in which single-color gelatine positives are produced from selective-color negatives and then synthesized into a polychrome composite, which improvement consists in introducing into the gelatine of the positives before' they are printed a pigment containing a dyestu and a resinous substance.

14:. ri`he process of making coloredk photo- 'graphs which `consists in producing selective-color 'negatives of the thing photographed; producing therefrom single-color positives on films which have been colored, before rinting, with 'a pigment containing a dyestu protected against action from the developer; and producing a polychrome composite from said positives. y

15. The process of making colored photographs whichconsists in producing selective-color negatives of thelthing photo- 4 graphed; producing therefrom single-color positives on gelatine films Whichhave been colored, before printing, with a pigment containing a dyestui and a resinous substance; and producing a polychrome com posite from said positives.

16. The improvement'in the art of making i a colored photograph which consists in producing selective-color negatives of the thing photographed, making therefrom positive images in color on a transparent sheet While the latter is held tightly stretched in a frame, and then superimposing the colored images upon a base While the frame is held in successive positions relatively to the base to bring each image in succession directly over the base for registration with the other l images.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto aiixed my signature, this twenty-fourth day of. June, 1914.

HIRAM C. J. DEEKS.

In the presence o- A AcnnRMAN G. OATMAN, Louis V. HINcHLmrfE.

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