Preparing Printing-Plates from Textiles.—

This invention, patented in Germany, by W. Sommer, Berlin, consists of a peculiar method of treating textiles so that they are adapted for printing. The material, the texture of which is to be printed, is put into a solution of 5 parts of alum and 38 parts of 50° alcohol; it is left in the solution for about twelve hours, and then put upon a frame. To protect it from dust it should be placed in a drying-box, and therein exposed for one hour to a temperature of 77° F. Beeswax heated to 131° F. is then rubbed upon the material while it is in the frame in the drying-box. The wax is visibly absorbed by the material, leaving the insterstices free, as on account of the heat the superfluous wax drops off. The textile material having been exposed in the drying-box for about nine hours to a heat of about 104° F., and after all the wax applied has been thoroughly absorbed, is to be coated with a preparation of 3 parts of gum dammar dissolved in 8 parts of pure turpentine. It is then dried in the drying-box for two hours, coated again with the same preparation, and finally thoroughly dried for two or three hours in the drying-box. When the textile material thus prepared is taken from the frame, it will be ready to be printed from, and will be found to be more durable than any printing-plate of metal or other material. After being mounted on wood or metal, it is available for any number of impressions.