Pen and Ink Drawing
Drawings for reproduction by the modern processes of photo-lithography and photo-etching may be prepared in a variety of ways. The most frequently used is termed Pen and Ink Drawing (often mistakenly called “etching,” which is engraving by means of an acid). This class of work is the most popular of all, and the most easily got at by artists and amateurs; it is translated with much greater ease, and at less cost, than photographs or shaded drawings of any kind. As the term indicates, it is executed with the pen; many artists, however, have a predilection for the brush (a fine sable pencil), which, though it requires considerable practice to master its use, becomes in masterly hands a valuable instrument, capable of greater and more varied effects than the pen. Good black ink, and smooth white paper or cardboard, are the essentials. Much may be said on the style or modes of different artists in drawing, the kind or quality of the ink, the pens and paper to be used. The relative values of thick and thin, open and close lines, the direction of the lines, etc., in producing the varied character and quality of good expressive drawing; the various textures of surfaces—roughness, smoothness, etc.—have all to be considered, more especially if the drawing is made upon a larger scale, to be reduced in the photo-etching process of translation. We heartily commend the shilling handbook on Pen and Ink drawing published by Winsor and Newton. It is an excellent introduction to the art; it gives full instructions on the best means of working, and the materials to be used.3
For Half-tone Shaded Blocks the design may be executed in washes as a china ink drawing, or in any other way. The illustrations are reproductions from various kinds of originals, as explained under each example.
Messrs. Carl Hentschel & Co., 182-3 Fleet Street, have been good enough to prepare several examples to illustrate the half-tone process; each block having been made from an original executed in a different way, as indicated by the explanatory title; and may be considered rather severe tests of what the process is capable. For these favours we are much obliged; we tender also our thanks for their kindness and courtesy in supplying much of the foregoing information.