The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (June 1892)

The Optical Magio Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. 67 the key, the lever at the register (Fig. 3) is pushed ‘back and the index set at No. 21. The film is now ready to continue its course to the winding up roller, but at present only the black paper is opposite the lens. The length of this is gauged ‘with such accuracy, that as soon as the index ‘shows No. 1 (which it will do by four turns of the key), the film is in position for exposure, When making subsequent exposures there is no fear of winding either too little or too much of the film, as the stop (Fig. 3) regulates this ‘automatically, and in this manner twenty-four exposures may be made on each spool of film. An index and lever are provided for focussing. Fig. 4 shows the front of the Kodak when opened. The lens it will be observed is fitted with stops in the containing apertures of three different sizes. The shutter is set by pulling the cord at top until two clicks are heard, and liberated by pressing ‘‘ the button” at side. Various durations of exposures may be made by adjusting the Jever between F andS; but to give a time exposure, the cord is pulled until one click only is theard. The Daylight Kodaks are made in three styles: A, B, and C, that described being the latter. ' The differences between the various styles are : A, 23 by 33 negative, single lens, fixed stop, -no focussing. B, 34 by 4 negative, double lens, revolving stop, and view finder. C,4 by 5 negative, double lens, revolving stop, adjustable speed to shutter, two view finders, and lever for focussing. Fic. 4. 30: Artistic Lantern Slides. By H. M. J. Unperuitt (OxForp). No, 1.—OUTLINES, &c. . A PHOTOGRAPH is only a photograph after all, and will never bea picture, because it has no soul: Real painted pictures, therefore, will always be ‘better and more interesting lantern slides than ‘anything that the camera can produce, If any “‘lanternist ” will look at some of the best ‘‘ hand‘painted ” slides, for which is asked from £1 to 43 each, he will be convinced of this. To buy ‘such slides is ruinous for all but the deepest purses, but any one who can paint can make form of a revolving disc | slides as good as these. Such slides are usually painted in oil or varnish colours, and I do not know exactly how they are done; but watercolours have this advantage over oils—that you can work more finely with them. . The following article gives particulars of a way of painting lantern slides in water-colours, and the method is equally useful for finished pictures or for rough diagrams suitable for scientific lectures. It takes me from six to eighteen hours to make a finished picture. What a long time ? True; but then—what a nice slide! On the other hand, an university extension lecturer, a friend of mine, tells me that he can paint two or three slides in an evening. He lectures on botany and physiology, and cannot get photographic slides of his subjects. Such as can be bought are photographed from diagrams and drawings, and are much inferior to the diagram painted direct on the slide. With a little practice, pictures can be painted so smoothly that no roughness is perceptible on the screen when one is seated about three or four yards distant. And as for colour—in these pictures you have real brilliancy, and the best of coloured photographs are thick and -dirty by comparison. I have now painted some six hundred slides or more, and I have illustrated the following subjects : Scientific lectures (two or three), Japanese Art, A Tour in Norway, Han Andersen’s ‘Snow Queen,” and some Fairy Tales. These last are immensely popular with children of all ages, from seven to seventy, and I haveenthusiastic audiences. But this is enough of preface. The first thing is the glass to paint on. This I get from E. Cutler, of Broad-street, Birmingham. It is the usual size, and is the very best patent plate, extra thin, and very finely smoothed or ground. The grinding must be so fine that the grain is imperceptible. Of course, this glass is only semi-transparent; but the grain gives a surface to paint on, and the slide when varnished becomes quite transparent. Then you need clear glass for covers. This must be of the same best quality. The ground-glass costs 12s. 6d.; the plain, 9s. 6d. per gross. For rough diagrams cheaper glass will do. But this is always very faulty, and even the best is none too free from specks and bubbles. ; We must begin by making an outline. Too much: stress cannot be laid on the necessity for an exact and perfect outline. In all kinds of painting, says Ruskin, the real artist makes a true outline. In a lantern slide, where every fault will be magnified fifty-fold, a perfect outline is doubly necessary. It is advisable to use two kinds of pencils, one