PAINTS AND VARNISHES 381 



colors red, yellow, and blue lampblack being added in 

 some cases. Kalsomine is applied with a large brush; the 

 ceiling is worked first and later the side-walls. 



428. Sign Painting. Sign painting, which includes all 

 kinds of advertising painting, from small lettered signs on 

 cardboard or wood to large pictorial work on walls and 

 large signboards, requires on the part of the painter a special 

 aptitude for fine color-work, designing, free-hand drawing, 

 and lettering. Some classes of work are done in the shop, 

 but much of the work must be done outside. 



In small lettered signs, the ground is prepared by laying 

 on several coats of white paint. When these coats have 

 dried thoroughly the letters are sketched off with white 

 chalk and then carefully traced with charcoal. After this 

 operation the surface is brushed over, leaving only a dim 

 layout, and the letters are cut in by outlining them with 

 lampblack mixed with linseed oil. The letters are filled 

 with paint, black paint being most commonly used on a 

 white background. For fine work, a small red sable pencil- 

 brush is used, and for large work a small bristle brush. When 

 the surface to be lettered is of metal, it is first pickled with 

 vinegar to make the paint hold well, the other processes being ' 

 the same as in the case of wooden surfaces. 



When several signs of the same kind are to be made, 

 stencils are used. To make a stencil the letters or designs 

 are first drawn on a sheet of stiff, heavy paper and are then 

 carefully cut out. The sheet of paper is tacked to a light 

 wooden frame and well coated with shellac. When the 

 sign is to be made in two or more colors several stencils are 

 made, one for each color. After the sign has had two coats 

 of ground-color and has thoroughly dried the stencil is laid 



