CH. X] DRAWING FOR PUBLICATION 375 



529. Fastening the letters to the drawing. The letters, 

 numerals, or words are cut from the printed sheet, with pains to 

 make straight edges and square corners. Then they are turned 

 face downward and with a camel's hair brush of small size such 

 as is used by artists, some freshly made starch paste is put on the 

 back. As each word or letter is pasted, one uses fine forceps to 

 pick it up and place it in the desired position, being sure that the 

 letter or word is arranged properly. In the beginning it is well to 

 use a try-square or some other instrument to make sure that the 

 letter or word is arranged correctly. Then it is pressed down, using 

 some tissue paper over the finger or some fine blotting paper, and 

 pressing directly downward so as not to disarrange the letter or 

 word by a lateral thrust. 



530. White letters on a black back-ground. Sometimes it is 

 necessary to use white letters or numerals on a black ground (e. g., 

 see fig. 211-214). In the largest printing houses one might be 

 able to get these, but they are easily made as follows : 



The desired letters, numerals, abbreviations or words are printed 

 on the white tissue paper as indicated above. A sheet of this 

 printed tissue paper is used as a negative by putting a clean glass 

 in the printing frame, placing the printed tissue paper face down 

 on the glass, and then putting some Velox, Cyco, or other photo- 

 graphic paper in place and printing exactly as for any negative. 

 The opaque letters will be in white, and the practically transparent 

 tissue paper between the letters will give the black back-ground in 

 the print. 



528a. (i) The authors are indebted to Mr. George C. Stanley, Ithaca's 

 photo-engraver, for the suggestion to use tissue paper for the printed letter s 

 and words to be pasted on drawings for photo-engraving. The advantage o f 

 tissue paper is that there is no shadow around the edge of the letter or word . 

 Where thick, ordinary white paper is used there is frequently left a black line 

 due to the shadow, and this line must be cut out by the engraver or it will give 

 a black line in the printed book. 



(2) Starch paste for use in sticking on the letters and words should be 

 freshly made. A good paste is made of dry laundry starch 5 grams, cold water 

 50 cc. These are put in a small vessel and gradually heated with constant 

 stirring until the paste is formed. Mucilage and other adhesives make the 

 tissue paper yellowish ; and paste which has been made some time is liable to 

 have fine lumps in it so that the letters are torn or distorted in pressing them 

 down on the drawing. 



