MISCELLANEOUS
BLACK AND WHITE AS COLORS
Figuratively speaking black and white are colors but technically they are not. Pigments that are jet black and pure white either vegetable or mineral are unknown. It takes the addition of blue to alter the yellowish cast of white, and blue to deepen the brownish cast of any so called black pigment.
White being a neutral color, will harmonize with most any color combination.
NEUTRAL HUES AND TINTS
Neutral hues are made by a 50–50 mixture of warm and cold colors. White added to neutral hues produce neutral tints.
Whiting—Chalk pulverized and freed from impurities.
VARNISH FOR THE BACK OF SILVERED MIRRORS
Dammar gum, 20 parts; asphalt, 3 parts; gutta-percha, 5 parts; benzol, 75 parts; mix and dissolve. To use this varnish, pour it over the silvered surface and move the plate back and forth until it is distributed evenly over the surface.
Soft toned (flat finish) colors and tints are very desirable in the modern home. The flat or dull finish prevents the reflection of light, and makes a desirable back ground for pictures and draperies.
COLOR IN SOAP BUBBLES
The beautiful colors of an ordinary soap bubble are caused by light shining through the thin filament and being reflected from its inner surface.
INVISIBLE WRITING INK
Dissolve two teaspoonfuls of white sugar in half cup full of boiling water. Write in the ordinary manner. Holding to the fire will cause the saccharine to turn brown.
INK FOR RUBBER STAMP PADS
Dissolve ten cents’ worth of red analine (or any other color) in two ounces of glycerine and apply to stamp pad with stiff brush; smooth it on as evenly as possible.
FRESHEN RUBBER STAMP PADS
To freshen up old rubber stamp pads, scrape surface of pad with a dull knife or edge of stiff cardboard to remove dust. Then apply clear glycerine. Pad is now almost as good as new.
BLACK TRACING PAPER
Lamp black mixed with cold lard to the consistency of thick paste. Apply to thin paper with a piece of cloth. Then take a flannel cloth and rub until the color ceases to come off. If red is desired use Venetian red. For blue use Prussian blue, and for green use chrome green.
COMMON BLACK WRITING INK
One ounce extract of logwood; pour over it two quarts of boiling soft water. When dissolved add one drachm of yellow chromate of potassa. Put in clean bottles. This formula will cost about 15 cents.
EVERLASTING BLACK WRITING INK
Two gallons of rain water, ¼ pound gum arabic, ½ pound copperas, ¾ pound powdered nut-galls, ¼ pound of brown sugar. Bruise all and mix. This is valuable for copying deeds, etc., as it will last for hundreds of years. Shake the mixture occasionally for the first ten days, then it is ready for use.
PAINTING WATER-COLORS ON PARCHMENT SHADES
To prevent water-color paints and india inks from crawling on the greasy surface of parchment, rub gently with finely powdered pumice, using a soft cloth or cotton. Pulverized emery is equally efficient.
TO COLOR FLOWERS
One method of coloring flowers is to cut them with long stems and let them stand for awhile in water containing dye of the desired color. There are some species of dry, strawlike flowers, which are merely dipped in dye.
TO TURN A HYDRANGEA BLUE
It is claimed that putting a couple of lumps of alum at the roots of the hydrangea will cause it to turn blue.
DRAWING PAPER MADE TRANSPARENT
To render ordinary drawing paper transparent for tracing purposes, sponge paper with a solution of 2 parts absolute alcohol to 1 of castor oil.
The alcohol soon evaporates and tracing paper is ready for use. Drawing or tracing may be made with india ink or lead pencil.
Restore paper to its original state by immersing in absolute alcohol.
DRIER FOR PAINTS ON PARCHMENT LAMP SHADES
Japan drier is used almost exclusively as a paint medium for coloring parchment lamp shades. Pale Japan is almost colorless and will not alter hues.
TO CLEAN SOILED PHOTOGRAPHS
Lightly sponge with cotton dipped in alcohol.
TO OXIDIZE COPPER AND BRASS
A solution for oxidizing copper or brass is composed of 2 ounces of nitrate of iron and 2 ounces of hyposulphite of soda to 1 pint of water. Immerse the article until the desired shade is acquired: then wash, dry and brush.
GREASE AND PAINT REMOVER
Oil of turpentine, fluid oz. 5; water of ammonia, fluid oz. 4; wood alcohol, fluid oz. 5; ether drops 25, acetic acid, fluid dr. 4; water, fluid oz. 5. Apply a little to stained parts with a brush, rubbing briskly for a moment or two. Rinse out with clear water.
TO REMOVE OIL STAINS FROM LEATHER
Dab the spot carefully with spirits of sal ammoniac, and after allowing it to act for awhile, wash with clean water. This treatment may have to be repeated a few times, taking care, however, not to injure the color of the leather.
BLEACHING TALLOW
Dissolve alum, five pounds, in water, ten gallons, by boiling; and when it is all dissolved, add tallow, twenty pounds. Continue the boiling for one hour, constantly stirring and skimming. When sufficiently cool to allow it, strain through thick muslin; then set aside to harden. When taken from the water, lay it by for a short time to drip.
WHEN LEATHER BECOMES STICKY
Either sponge the leather thoroughly with a mild suds of borax soap, and when perfectly dry, apply thin coat of white shellac, or else clean the leather with some solvent such as gasoline.
COMMON BLUE WRITING INK
Sulphate of indigo and soft water. Color to suit.
WATER PROOFING PAPER
Dissolve 2 parts of borax and 2 parts of shellac in 2 parts of water, and strain through a fine cloth. With a brush or sponge apply this to the surface of the paper, and when it is dry, polish it to a high gloss with a soft brush.
TO MAKE ORNAMENTAL GRASSES GLISTEN
Make a brine by boiling one quart of common salt in 1½ quarts of water for fifteen minutes. Tie bunches of ornamental grasses together and pour the solution over them while it is hot. Place in a dark room or cellar, where it will not be disturbed and allow the grasses to stand for 24 hours, then lift them out and hang them up to dry. In a few hours they will be white and glistening.
INDELIBLE MARKING INK
100 grains nitrate of silver, 1 ounce distilled water, 2 drachms gum arabic, 1 scruple of indigo. Thoroughly mix.
EYE STRAIN
Eye strain can be eliminated while printing yellow forms under artificial light by using blue eye glasses. This causes the yellow to appear green.
MARBLIZING
Marbling Show Cards, Backgrounds For Photo Engravers, Lampshades, Box Tops, Paper, Etc.
Halftone illustrates three different cards marbled and cut to form a diamond shape. Process is fully described in the following pages.
FRENCH OCHRE
16 parts deep chrome yellow, 4 parts medium purple and 4 parts bright red.