When the photograph you desire to color is mounted on a card, first
immerse it in _boiling hot water_. This will soften the paste, and in a
short time the print may be lifted from the mount. Do not hurry, but
give the print a thorough soaking before trying to lift it from the
card, and always use great care to avoid tearing the photograph. Rinse
the picture in cold water to clean it from the paste and coloring matter
that may adhere to it from the card. Let it remain in the vessel of
clear water until ready for mounting on the glass. Prepare a little thin
starch paste, as follows. Amylum (Refined Corn Starch) a teaspoonful,
cold water 2 ounces, or nitrate strontium ⅛ ounce; stir till dissolved,
then bring it to a boil, stirring constantly.
Have the starch paste _thin_ and strain it through fine muslin. Having
cleaned your Convex Glass _thoroughly_ with alcohol and a piece of
cotton batting, take the photograph and blot off the surplus water.
Paste the face of the print and the concave or hollow side of the
cleaned glass with your starch, being very careful to cover both the
print and glass smoothly. A wide bristle brush is most suitable for this
work. Lay the print on the glass, the prepared surfaces together, and
proceed carefully to work the bubbles out with your fingers, after which
lay two or three thicknesses of tissue paper on the print, and with an
ivory paper-knife, or flat stick, with curve about the same as the
concave surface of the glass, work the print down to the glass, forcing
out all the air. Work from the centre of the glass toward the edges, and
with great care, using very light pressure to avoid breaking the glass.
The mounting of the print should be done quickly, as the paste dries
very fast. If any bubbles should remain, prick them through with a
fine-pointed needle and rub over with the ivory knife. After mounting
the picture on the glass allow it to dry thoroughly. Now fill the
concave or hollow side of the glass having the picture on, with Castor
Oil three parts, Oil Lavender one part. Allow the oil to remain until
the photograph is transparent; this will take from three to twelve
hours. When perfectly transparent, pour off the oil and wipe with a fine
sponge until nearly dry. Your picture is now ready for painting.
The colors applied directly to the photograph are those that need no
blending—such as the eyes, lips, jewelry, light ribbons, flower
ornaments and neck-tie. Edges of ruffles and embroidery should also be
touched up on the photograph. When you have finished coloring the
picture on the first glass, pour Glycerine over it, being careful to
cover the surface thoroughly. Drain off and then put the other convex
glass to the back of the one having the print, and wedge apart from it
by attaching little pieces of card-board to the second glass with
mucilage.
Have the wedges very narrow and close to the edge. This separates the
glasses and keeps the upper one from pressing the oiled and painted
glass below. On this second glass you will color the face and other
flesh, hair, drapery, and, if necessary, the background. The miniature
is finished by using card-board to back up the picture, white being very
effective.
Bind the edges of the glass and card-board together with strips of
adhesive paper.
CAUTION! Don’t use Silver Gloss Starch; it will not do nearly as well as
Corn Starch.