Scratchboard

Daria Keynan <dkeynan [at] aol__com> writes

>Does any one have information on the materials used to make black
>scratch board and the method used in its manufacturing?

This is also known as "scraperboard" and "imitation wood engraving".
It normally uses a smooth white gesso coated with lampblack. There
have also been sophisticated versions, e.g., "papier Gillot"
(France, ca. 1879) which used three or four layers of grays which
the artist would scratch away down to the bright white support. The
effect was an intermediary step between line engraving illustrations
and true half-tone engravings.

My Encyclopedia of Printing, Photographic and Photomechanical
Processes has more on the subject, including many references such as
Cecile Curtis: The Art of the Scratchboard, Cincinnati, North Light
Books, 1988.

Luis Nadeau
nadeaul [at] nbnet__nb__ca
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:56
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