Photogravure

Blaney, Henry R., 1855-1913Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 111K words
Chapters: 12

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Photogravure by Henry R. BlaneyAuthor: Blaney, Henry R., 1855-1913,Language: English, Class: TR: Technology: Photography, Release Date: Jun 17, 2011

Editor's review

This book is a technical work on photography by Henry R. Blaney, focusing on the photogravure process. A public-domain title in the photography-technique category, it is reissued by Project Gutenberg. Its value lies in preserving a technical account and operational context of photogravure from more than a century ago, making it a useful source for readers studying the history of photography, the history of printing, and early image-reproduction techniques. The content is工艺说明 rather than artistic appreciation, and readers need some grounding in photography and printing to match the terminology with the procedures. It is suitable as supplementary reading in the history of technology, best read alongside works on the history of photographic processes or printing, and can also be worked through chapter by chapter by enthusiasts of classical image-reproduction techniques. Because it was written long ago, specific materials and equipment should be understood in comparison with modern processes.

Who it's for

A good fit for

University teachers, students, and researchers in the history of photography and printing
Technically minded photography enthusiasts interested in the classical photogravure process
Those who need early public-domain photographic-technical literature for translation or reference compilation
Professionals who collect and restore historical images and follow plate-making processes

Not a good fit for

Beginners who only want to learn smartphone or digital photography skills
Readers looking for photographic art appreciation or picture-album content
Those without a foundation in photography and printing who do not wish to engage with technical terminology

Reading tips

First understand the basic principles of photogravure, then read the process steps chapter by chapter to avoid a pile-up of terminology.
Read against modern printing or image-reproduction sources to understand the differences between the old process and today's technology.
Take notes on the process flow as you read, listing materials, equipment, and steps separately.
In the English original, focus on the operational description paragraphs; the theoretical groundwork can be skimmed.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What kind of process is photogravure?

Photogravure is an image-reproduction process developed in the nineteenth century: a plate is made photographically with recessed image areas, which are then filled with ink for printing. This book gives a technical account of the process and is suitable for readers interested in early image reproduction and the history of printing.

What background is needed to read this book?

A basic familiarity with photography and printing is best—at least a grasp of plate-making, ink, and printing plates. The terminology and procedures are fairly specialized, and readers with no background may get stuck on the process descriptions. It is advisable to look up a basic introduction to photogravure before starting the main text.

Is the technical content still useful today?

As an operational manual, its material and equipment information belongs to a historical context; as a source in the history of technology, it retains value in helping readers understand the logic and evolution of early image-reproduction processes. It should be read in comparison with modern and contemporary printing technology rather than followed directly as operating instructions.

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About the author

Blaney, Henry R., 1855-1913 Author · 1855–1913

Henry R. Blaney (1855–1913) was an author active in English-language publishing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Public information about his nationality, education, and career is limited; only one of his works is held in this collection, Photogravure. Judging from this surviving title, his writing centered on the photogravure printing process and belonged to the genre of technical or craft-oriented works aimed at professional readers or enthusiasts. Such works typically emphasize clear, practical descriptions of procedures, materials, and operational details rather than literary elaboration. Photogravure was widely used at the time for book illustrations, art reproduction, and illustrated albums, and writings on the subject helped disseminate practical knowledge of printing technology. Owing to the scarcity of sources, his specific style and influence cannot yet be described in detail and await further documentation.