US2014006A - Apparatus for making drawings - Google Patents

Description

Sept 10, 1935. D. c. MORRISON 2,014,006

APPARATUS FOR MAKING DRAWINGS Filed Jan. 14, 1932 '1 l I .9 E j 1: D] r I 1 l I I I I 3 k. l I I I l I I l J INVENTOR David C. Morrison/ BY /awm Ma ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR MAKING DRAWINGS David O. Morrison, New York, N.

Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Elgae Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 14, 1932, Serial No. 586,490

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for making drawings with certain portions thereof simulating half-tone effects, more particularly of the type adapted for direct, screenlessreproduction by photo-engraving processes, as line cuts, zinc etchings and the like, as distinguished from drawings reproduced by means of the well known half tone screen plate process.

It is a matter of common knowledge to those skilled in printing, engraving and other allied arts that line cuts cost less than half tone plates. The well known Ben Day process is therefore now widely practiced to secure some of the advantages of half tone representation within the limits imposed by line plate technique; and for present purposes, it is sufficient to note that this process involves the application of markings in the form of small spots, lines or the like in varying shapes and patterns to the surface of a drawing by a transfer or printing operation. This step in the reproduction of a drawing is usually performed by the engraver, either independently or under the artists direction. In many cases, the artistic or other intended eiTect of the original drawing may be destroyed or substantially defeated by inexpertness in application of the Ben Day process.

One object of my invention has been to provide apparatus whereby a simulation of the Ben Day effect may be readily incorporated along with and as a part of the original drawings by the artist who produces it, so that no printing or transfer steps need be interposed to render the drawings suitable for reproduction. In addition to the beneficial results following the attainment of this object by my improved apparatus, other advantages of material importance are secured, as will more fully appear from the following description of one form of apparatus suitable for use in connection with my improved method and illustrated in the drawing accompanying the present specification in which:-

Figure l is a view in perspective;

Figure 2, a plan View;

Figure 3, a fragmentary sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4, a fragmentary sectional view illustrating in magnified degree a step involved in the operation of drawing; and

Figures 5 and 6 fragmentary plan views in magnified degree of various platen patterns which may be employed in connection with my improved apparatus and method.

One form of apparatus suitable for use in connection with the practice of my improved method includes a frame or base I and a cover or lid preferably in the general form of a drawing board 2 having a smooth and substantially continuous top surface except where said surface is 5 interrupted by an opening 3 extending through the board 2 to accommodate what may conveniently be referred to as a platen l which is made of any suitable material having any desired degree of flexibility or rigidity provided 10 with a discontinuous or interrupted working surface formed, for example, by a plurality of raised areas 5 interspersed with or defined by relatively depressed areas 6.

The platen l may conveniently be supported in position to register with the opening 3 by a suitable platen holder l supported on the base i in position to bring the platen t into register with the opening 3. A flange 8 surrounds the opening 3 and overlaps edge portions of the plat- I en holder l as well as edge portions of the platen 4 when in position thereon as illustrated in Figure 3.

The base i is also provided with one or more recesses 9 within which extra platens, as it and l i, may be stored or transported when not in use. Access to these extra platens is more readily afforded by means of openings or grooves 52 in side walls of the recesses 9. If desired, the base B may also be provided with another recess I 3 which can be utilized for carrying pencils, erasers and/or other articles useful to an artist.

In operation, a drawing sheet H3 is tacked to the drawing board 2 by means of thumb tacks IE, or the like, and with any desired portion of the sheet lying above a platen having any selected or desired pattern of raised and depressed areas. In a typical case, the drawing may inelude an area defined by lines it, to which area it is desired to apply a marking in simulation of Ben Day. Where the drawing paper or other sheet M is sufficiently flexible, the desired result is secured by rubbing a crayon ll, or other suitable marking device, across the surface of said area. Figure 4 indicates how a deposit or marking 08 is left upon certain portions and not upon other portions of the surface of the paper M when the crayon ll is moved across said paper in the direction of the arrow. 0

The modified form of platen illustrated in Fig- 5 ure 5 presents annular raised areas l9 enclosing depressed areas 20 and surrounded by depressed areas 2|. In the modification illustrated in Figure 6 the platen is provided with diamond 2 shaped raised areas 22 defined by surrounding depressed areas 23.

It is noted further in connection with Figure 4 that the crayon H has left a marking deposit l8 on those portions of the exposed surface of the sheet M which lie over the raised areas 5 of the platen 4; but no mark has been made on portions of the sheet which lie over the depressed areas 6. If it is desired to apply markings of a different pattern to a different area of the drawing, the platen 4 is removed from its position, as shown in Figure 2, and replaced by one of the extra platens or another platen with a different pattern of raised and depressed areas. By repeating the operation of rubbing the crayon across the surface of the paper while in contact with the interrupted surface of the new platen, the desired different markings are obtained. It is contemplated that under some circumstances, satisfactory results in the practice of my method may be obtained by using a platen or its equivalent for the intended purpose independently of the other specific apparatus shown and described. I also contemplate that any given platen may be provided with different patterns covering different areas of its exposed surface and/or overlapping or intermingling along edge portions thereof if desired, Figure 5, so that, instead of changing the platen, the artist may shift his drawing from one position thereon to another to avail himself of a different underlying pattern.

Whatever material is used in making the platens according to my invention, the raised areas 5 thereof will be so elevated or otherwise defined and constructed that, when a crayon or the like is drawn across a sheet operatively positioned thereon, markings will be made only on those portions of the paper overlying the raised areas; and that no effective full tone marking will simultaneously occur on those portions of the sheet overlying the depressed areas 5, it being contemplated that these portions will yield far enough into the spaces between the raised areas so that frictional contact of the crayon with the sheet overlying said spaces will not be suflicient to cause the crayon to leave a full tone marking. It will be understood that the extent to which the raised areas are elevated above the depressed areas to secure a satisfactory or the intended result cannot be arbitrarily fixed, inasmuch as this dimension may vary widely without departing from the intended scope of my invention. Generally speaking, however, where the sheet of drawing paper is relatively flexible the depth of the recesses on the plate should be such that the paper yields easily into said recesses without coming into contact with the depressed areas thereof while the crayon is drawn across the exposed surface of the sheet. It will be apparent that a less yielding or less flexible paper may be used successfully where the depth of the recesses is less in proportion. Whatever the character of the paper or of the platen, the two tone effect for successful reproduction by line out is achieved within the meaning of this invention where the depth of the recesses is such that no substantial marking is made on the drawing sheet except where it rests upon the raised areas of the platen. In some cases, where the crayon leaves dark markings on the spaces above the raised areas light markings on the spaces above the depressed areas, the process produces an artistically interesting and effective intermediate or half tone which may be taken advantage of, or which may be offset for line out reproduction by methods well understood in the engraving art.

The devices above described and/or parts thereof are adapted to be used to advantage in connection with making drawings for many different purposes and presenting a wide variety of visual efiects heretofore not readily achievable by known drawing methods or apparatus. For example, in addition to the described steps of applying one pattern of markings to one area and another pattern to another area, the method may include applying different patterns to the same areas to produce greater variety of pattern or effect.

It is contemplated further that my improved method and/or apparatus will enhance the artistic and naturalistic aspects of animated cartoons reproduced in moving pictures. Where my invention is used in making drawings for reproduction without Ben Day, it effects not only the desirable artistic results hereinabove referred to but also permits a substantial reduction in the cost of line plates by eliminating the Ben Day operation entirely. Thus, my invention not only extends the field within which line cuts may be used in place of half tones but it also reduces the cost of line cuts having the Ben Day effect.

I claim:-

1. Apparatus for drawing comprising a board having a substantially smooth Working surface adapted to support a drawing sheet and an opening through said surface, a supporting base therefor, and a platen having a discontinuous surface consisting of raised areas defined by depressed areas removably mounted on said base in a position to be exposed through said opening in the board with the raised platen-areas uniplanar with said working surface and adapted to also support the drawing sheet while working on the latter.

2. Apparatus for drawing comprising a board having a substantially smooth working surface adapted to support a drawing sheet and an opening through said surface, a supporting base therefor, and a platen having a discontinuous surface consisting of raised areas defined by depressed areas removably mounted on said base in a position to be exposed through said opening in the board with the upper surface of the platen substantially flush with said working surface and adapted to also support the drawing sheet while working on the latter.

3. Apparatus for drawing comprising a board having a substantially smooth working surface adapted to support a drawing sheet and an open ing through said surface, a platen having a discontinuous surface consisting of raised areas defined by depressed areas removably mounted on said base within said opening, the upper surface of said platen being substantially flush with the said working surface and adapted to also support the drawing sheet while working on the latter.

DAVID C. MORRISON.

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