116 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1924 



used to make the color print, White House by the Sea. Her process 

 of preparing and printing an aquatint in color from three plates 

 follows : 



First. The drawing and detail is etched in outline in the key plate, 

 either in line or soft ground, or in other ways, soft ground being 

 used in the White House by the Sea. The soft-ground line is more 

 harmonious, when combined with aquatint, than the regular etched 

 line. 



Second. It is now necessary to get the drawing and detail of the 

 key plate transferred to the other two plates. This is accomplished 

 in the following manner : A sheet of cardboard about a foot longer 

 than the plate, having a hole the size of the plates cut in its center, is 

 placed on the plate press. The key plate is inked and placed in the 

 opening in the cardboard, a sheet of damp paper the size of the 

 cardboard is placed over it, and the three are run through the press 

 until the plate can be removed but the cardboard and paper are held 

 by the roller firmly by one end. The free end of the paper is lifted 

 and the key plate removed, and a plate with an aquatint ground or 

 it is substituted. These are run back through the press and the fresh 

 ink on the print is transferred to the plate ; simply a counter proof 

 on metal. The third plate is treated in the same manner. The draw- 

 ing is now on the three plates in exact register. 



Third. The key plate is now given an aquatint ground. The 

 three plates are stopped out and etched in the usual way and are 

 then ready to be inked. 



Fourth. Each plate is inked with its proper color, madder lake, 

 yellow ocher, or Prussian blue. The red plate is placed on the 

 bed of the press, in the hole in the cardboard and a large sheet of 

 moist paper laid over it and the impression is taken, one end of the 

 paper being held firmly by the blankets, the red plate is removed and 

 the yellow one substituted and when it is run through the press the 

 red and yellow have been transferred to the paper ; in the same way 

 the key plate is printed, making the three impressions necessary to 

 complete the print. The order of printing and the shades of color 

 may be changed to suit the effect desired by the artist. 



The technical series of etchings is now the most complete of any 

 of the technical exhibits and it is planned to bring all the others to 

 the same state. 



Another series which has been greatly improved by recent ac- 

 cessions is that of letter-press printing. Excellent examples have 

 been received from Johnck-Beran & Kibbee, of San Francisco; 

 William Edwin Eudge, of New York; Taylor & Taylor, of San 

 Francisco; John Henry Nash, of San Francisco; Worthy Paper 



