Prepared Paper. Paper frequently requires some special preparation to fit it for many purposes for which it would be useless in its original state. The following methods of preparing paper will be found useful, and in some cases indispensable, for reference.

1926. To Make Transfer Paper

1926.    To Make Transfer Paper. To prepare transfer paper, take some thin post or tissue paper, rub the surface well with black lead, vermilion, red chalk, or any coloring matter; wipe this preparation well off with a piece of clean rag, and it will be ready-for use.

1927. To Make Tracing Paper with Petroleum

1927.    To Make Tracing Paper with Petroleum. Saturate ordinary writing paper with petroleum by means ofSa brush, then wipe it off until it is dry. This makes a tracing paper equal to the manufactured article, for all ordinary purposes. It was discovered by Mr. Hiiusel, an architect at Neustadt.

1928. To Make Tracing Paper with Benzine

1928.    To Make Tracing Paper with Benzine. If paper be damped with pure and fresh distilled benzine, it at once assumes a transparency, and permits of the tracing being made, and of ink or water colors being used on its surface without any running. The paper resumes its opacity as the benzine evaporates, and if the drawing is not then completed, the requisite portion of the paper must be again damped with benzine. This new discovery of the properties of benzine will prove of great service to many branches of the art profession, in allowing the use of stiff paper where formerly only a slight tissue could be used.

1929. To Make Transparent or Tracing Paper

1929.    To Make Transparent or Tracing Paper. Dissolve a piece of white bees' wax, about the size of a walnut, in 1/2 pint spirits of turpentine; then having procured some very fine white, woven tissue paper, lay it on a clean board, and, with a soft brush dipped in this liquid, go over one side, and then turn it over and apply it to the other; hang it up in a place free from dust to dry. It will be ready for use in a few days. Some add a small quantity of resin, or use resin instead of wax.

1930. To Make Tracing Paper

1930.    To Make Tracing Paper. Lay open a quire of paper, of large size, and apply with a clean sash tool a coat of varnish, made of equal parts of Canada balsam and oil of turpentine, to the upper surface of the first sheet, then hang it on a line, and repeat the operation on fresh sheets until the proper quantity is finished. If not sufficiently transparent, a second coat of varnish may be applied as soon as the first has become quite dry.

1931. Iridescent Paper

1931.    Iridescent Paper. Boil in water, 8 parts nut-galls, 5 parts sulphate of iron, 4 parts each sal ammoniac and sulphate of indigo, and 1/8 part gum-arabic. Wash the paper in this decoction, and then expose it to ammonia.