Google+

Remembering John C. Moss, inventor of the photoengraving process

January 5, 2018 /Photography NewsBorn 180 years ago today, on 5 January 1838, John Calvin Moss was an American inventor credited with developing the first practicable photoengraving process in 1863. 

Advertisement by the Moss Photo-Engraving Company. Moss left this company and established the Moss Engraving Company in 1880 with himself as sole owner. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Advertisement by the Moss Photo-Engraving Company. Moss left this company and established the Moss Engraving Company in 1880 with himself as sole owner. Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Photoengraving, also known as photo-chemical milling, is a process of engraving using photographic processing techniques. The full form of photoengraving is photo mechanical process in the graphic arts, used principally for reproducing illustrations. The subject is photographed, and the image is recorded on a sensitized metal plate, which is then etched in an acid bath. In the case of line cuts (drawings in solid blacks and whites without gradations of color), the photoengraving is done on zinc, and the result is called a zinc etching. In the case of halftone cuts, the work is done on copper. The halftone effect is accomplished by photographing the subject through a wire or glass screen, which breaks the light rays so that the metal plate is sensitized in a dotted pattern; the larger dots create the darker areas, the smaller dots the highlights. The finer the screen, the greater the precision of detail in the printed product. 

Advertisement by the Moss Photo-Engraving Company. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Advertisement by the Moss Photo-Engraving Company. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
In 1852, William Fox Talbot patented some of his pioneering work for a prototype of photoengraving. During the 1880s photoengraving techniques had developed further and by the end of the century the process had dramatically improved the look of newspapers and enhanced advertisements with better graphics. 

Moss Engraving Advertisement, ca. 1885. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.
Moss Engraving Advertisement, ca. 1885. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.
John C. Moss, who studied the work of Daguerre and that of Nicéphore Niepce, a French doctor who produced the world’s first photograph, invented the first practicable photo-engraving process in 1863. Moss attributed his wife's help (Mary A. Bryant) to much of his success. Their work led to a revolution in printing and eventually to the mass marketing of newspapers and magazines and books which combined photographs with traditional text.

Moss died at age 54, in 1892.




13 comments:

  1. Lutz Matschke says

    Greets to thee ones that work with all these processes in the pixel bouring Era!
    Lutz Matschke
    www.lutzmatschke.de


    Paolo says

    This is a dying art that we can never get back, no matter how much we try and how many workshops we create or attend.


    Jane J. says

    Very interesting


    Unknown says

    Your blog was too good. i really appreciate with your blog.Thanks for sharing.
    IPL 2016 auction live Yuvraj Singh
    IPL 2016 Auction Kings xi
    IPL 2016 Team Players MI KKR


    Unknown says

    ninest123 16.01
    gucci outlet, tiffany and co, ugg boots, michael kors outlet, ugg boots, ugg boots, longchamp, louis vuitton, nike outlet, michael kors outlet, ray ban sunglasses, burberry, nike free, polo ralph lauren outlet, christian louboutin outlet, replica watches, louis vuitton outlet, louboutin, oakley sunglasses, prada outlet, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet, nike air max, longchamp outlet, ugg boots, burberry outlet online, ray ban sunglasses, tory burch outlet, louboutin shoes, tiffany jewelry, michael kors, chanel handbags, longchamp outlet, jordan shoes, polo ralph lauren outlet, prada handbags, ray ban sunglasses, replica watches, louboutin outlet, oakley sunglasses, uggs on sale, louis vuitton outlet, nike air max, louis vuitton, michael kors outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, oakley sunglasses


    Unknown says

    timberland, oakley pas cher, north face, michael kors, vanessa bruno, converse pas cher, ray ban uk, true religion outlet, tn pas cher, michael kors, mulberry, nike air max, ralph lauren pas cher, burberry, nike free, nike roshe run, hollister pas cher, ray ban pas cher, true religion jeans, air jordan pas cher, vans pas cher, nike air max, lacoste pas cher, lululemon, coach purses, nike free run uk, michael kors, abercrombie and fitch, nike huarache, hollister, nike blazer, hermes, nike roshe, replica handbags, louboutin pas cher, nike trainers, air max, hogan, air force, coach outlet, longchamp pas cher, nike air max, true religion jeans, true religion jeans, sac longchamp, north face, michael kors, new balance pas cher, ralph lauren uk, sac guess, longchamp


    Unknown says

    s5 cases, converse, ralph lauren, hollister, louboutin, ferragamo shoes, abercrombie and fitch, soccer shoes, iphone 6 plus cases, babyliss, nfl jerseys, soccer jerseys, instyler, north face outlet, iphone cases, birkin bag, iphone 5s cases, hollister, oakley, nike roshe, nike air max, mcm handbags, north face outlet, iphone 6s plus cases, vans, wedding dresses, valentino shoes, giuseppe zanotti, insanity workout, mac cosmetics, reebok shoes, timberland boots, iphone 6s cases, new balance, ipad cases, herve leger, ray ban, p90x workout, baseball bats, celine handbags, ghd, mont blanc, beats by dre, jimmy choo shoes, gucci, nike air max, vans shoes, asics running shoes, bottega veneta, iphone 6 cases, chi flat iron, lululemon


    Unknown says

    juicy couture outlet, moncler, moncler, pandora charms, supra shoes, links of london, canada goose outlet, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, moncler, canada goose, doudoune canada goose, montre pas cher, hollister, marc jacobs, lancel, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, louis vuitton, barbour jackets, moncler, doke gabbana outlet, converse outlet, wedding dresses, louis vuitton, karen millen, ugg boots uk, canada goose, moncler, toms shoes, swarovski crystal, bottes ugg, pandora jewelry, pandora jewelry, canada goose uk, coach outlet, thomas sabo, canada goose, moncler outlet, sac louis vuitton pas cher, moncler, ugg pas cher, swarovski, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, replica watches, pandora charms, moncler, canada goose outlet, barbour, canada goose, juicy couture outlet
    ninest123 16.01


    xender for PC says

    shareit
    shareit for pc
    xender
    xender for pc


    chenzhen says

    fitflops sale clearance
    reebok classic
    stephen curry shoes
    nike roshe run
    coach factory outlet
    cheap jordan shoes
    cheap basketball shoes
    polo ralph lauren
    kate spade handbags
    adidas shoes
    rolex daytona
    timberland boots
    mizuno running shoes
    oakley sunglasses
    burberry outlet
    adidas superstars
    jordan pas cher
    sac longchamp
    michael kors outlet,michael kors outlet online,michael kors outlet store,michael kors handbags,michael kors bags,michael kors watches,michael kors purses
    coach factory outlet
    valentino
    ray ban sunglasses outlet
    cheap jordans
    michael kors outlet
    michael kors outlet online
    michael kors bags
    canada goose jackets
    coach outlet
    timberland outlet
    nike blazer
    ralph lauren outlet
    fitflops
    reebok
    ed hardy
    cheap ray bans
    valentino bags
    jimmy choo
    mont blanc pens
    puma outlet
    chenzhen20160407


    Unknown says

    All the best blogs that is very useful for keeping me share the ideas
    of the future as well this is really what I was looking for, and I am
    very happy to come here. Thank you very much
    earn to die
    earn to die 2
    earn to die 3
    Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and finally got the
    earn to die 4
    courage to go ahead and give youu a shout out from
    earn to die 6
    Austin Texas! Just wanted to tell
    earn to die 5
    Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and finally got the
    happy wheels
    strike force heroes
    slitherio
    you keep up the fantastic work!my weblog
    age of war
    earn to die 5
    good game empire
    tank trouble
    tank trouble 2
    strike force heroes


    Unknown says

    Super website with a great sharing and amazing stories is ur web.. please keep doing what u do now.. thanks to you.
    Togel Online Singapore
    Togel Online Hongkong
    Bandar Togel Singapore
    Bandar Togel
    Togel Online Terpercaya
    Bandar Togel Online Terpercaya
    Togel Online
    Agen Togel Online Terpercaya
    Agen Togel Online
    agen togel
    agen togel indonesia
    togel sgp
    daftar togel online
    Togel Online terbesar
    bandar Togel Online


    raybanoutlet001 says

    new york knicks
    yeezy boost 350 white
    gucci borse
    under armour outlet
    nike outlet
    oakley sunglasses
    cheap mlb jerseys
    ray ban sunglasses
    michael kors uk
    ecco shoes


13 comments so far. What do you think?

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.