Photomechanical method

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said initial form of representation is a negative transparency, and said processing comprises developing a resultant exposure of said light sensitive surface of said material to produce a positive transparency wherein said linear and planar shapes of said image are enhanced versions of linear and planar shapes on said initial form of said representation.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said initial form of representation is a positive transparency, and said processing comprises, developing a resultant exposure of said light sensitive surface of said material to produce a negative transparency whereon said linear and planar shapes of said image are diminished versions of linear and planar shapes on said initial form of said representation.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said initial form of said representation is a transparency copy containing within a substantially opaque background a conformation of transparent areas indicative of a topographic map having contour lines of generally uniform thickness, and wherein said light radiated from a plurality of spaced sources thereof and faced by said layered arrangement, is revolved about a point between at least two of said sources in a plane which in an intersection with surfaces characterizing the planar disposition of said contacting layers in their facing relationship to said lights, defines significantly less than a straight angle, and said processing comprising, developing a resultant exposure of said light sensitive surface of said material by said radiated light to produce a first positive transparency wherein said contour lines are enhanced in predetermined diametrically opposing directions, producing by contact printing employing said first positive transparency as copy, a first negative transparency containing a showing in transparent images of said enhanced contour lines, producing a further transparency containing an opaque area corresponding to an area within a predetermined portion of said topographic map containing said contour lines, which directionally coincides with a predetermined one of said diametrically opposing directions, producing by contact printing, employing said further transparency as copy, a reversal transparency of said further transparency, applying said further transparency as a mask on said first negative transparency, and by contact printing employing said masked first negative transparency as copy, producing a second positive transparency whereon appear as opaque images only said contours of an area corresponding to an area within a predetermined portion of said topographic map containing said contour lines, which directionally coincides with the other one of said diametrically opposing directions, applying said reversal transparency of said further transparency as a mask on said first negative transparency to provide a further masked negative transparency, and by a two-step contact printing employing firstly said second positive transparency in contact with a screen of intermediate shading as copy, and secondly said further masked negative transparency as copy, producing said final form of said representation whereon said contours of said areas of within predetermined portions of said topographic map directionally coinciding with said predetermined one and said other one of said diametrically opposing directions appear in shaded relief and highlighting, respectively, upon a background of contrasting intermediate shading.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said initial form of said representation is a transparency copy containing within a substantially opaque background a conformation of transparent areas indicative of a topographic map having regularly indexed contour lines and other cartographic symbols, and wherein said light radiated from a plurality of spaced sources thereof and faced by said layered arrangement, is revolved about a point between at least two of sAid sources in a plane which is substantially parallel to surfaces characterizing the planar disposition of said contacting layers in their facing relationship to said lights, and said processing comprising, developing in a first of said layered arrangements a resultant exposure of light sensitive surface of said material by directing said radiated light thereon by way of said transparency copy and said spacer so as to produce thereby a harmonized negative transparency whereon the weight of all contour lines are equalized and wherefrom all said cartographic symbols are eliminated, developing in a second of said layered arrangements a further resultant exposure of a light sensitive surface of a further material by directing said radiated light thereon by way of said harmonized negative and said spacer so as to produce a first positive transparency whereon a first plurality of said equalized contour lines are enhanced to a degree where such lines which correspond to a first predetermined range of slope gradients become unified by a coalescence thereof, developing in a third and in sequence subsequent ones of said layered arrangements, further resultant exposures of light sensitive surfaces of further materials by directing said radiated light thereon by way of said harmonized negative and said spacer so as to produce second, and subsequently other positive transparencies whereon a second, and subsequently other further pluralities of said equalized contour lines are enhanced to a degree where such lines which correspond to a second, and subsequently other, predetermined ranges of slope gradients become unified by their coalescence, producing by contact printing, employing said first positive transparency, and subsequently said second positive transparency and in sequence said other positive transparencies as copy, a first and second and subsequently other negative transparencies having thereon transparent reversals of said respective coalesced contours, developing in a fourth of said layered arrangements a still further resultant exposure of a light sensitive surface of a still further material by directing said radiated light thereon by way of said first positive transparency and said spacer so as to produce a first negative transparency whereon by diminution of said coalesced contours the edges defining transparent areas thereof are coextensive with the true edges of said coalescence, developing in a fifth, and in sequence subsequent ones of said layered arrangements, yet still further resultant exposures of light sensitive surfaces of further materials by directing said radiated light thereon by way of said second and said other positive transparencies and said spacer so as to produce a second and subsequently other negative transparencies whereon by diminution of said coalesced contours the edges defining transparent areas thereof are coextensive with the true edges of said coalescence, producing by contact printing employing said first negative transparency, and subsequently said second negative transparency and in sequence said other true-edged transparencies as copy, a first, second and subsequently other positive transparencies having thereon opaque reversals of said true-edged transparent areas, applying said first, second and other positive transparencies having opaque reversals of said true-edged transparent areas as masks on, respectively, said first, second and other negative transparencies having thereon transparent reversals of said respective coalesced contours, to produce an arrangement of composite transparencies whereon only said first, second and other respective coalesced areas appear as transparent areas, and correspond respectively to a descending order of slope gradient zones of said topographic map.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein the respective ones of said composite transparencies are screened with a separate one of a corresponding number of differently colored transparencies, and by contact printing each of the sCreened composite transparencies on a singular color sensitive film producing a map whereon said slope gradient zones are distinguishable by their respective colorations.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein said initial form of representation is a first positive transparency copy containing within a substantially transparent background a conformation of opaque areas indicative of symbols on a topographic map, said symbols having sizes falling within a predetermined range of sizes, and wherein said light radiated from a plurality of spaced sources thereof and faced by said layered arrangement, is revolved about a point between at least two of said sources in a plane which is substantially parallel to surfaces characterizing the planar disposition of said contacting layers in their facing relationship to said lights, and said processing comprising, developing in a first of said layered arrangements a resultant exposure of light sensitive surface of said material by directing said radiated light thereon by way of said first positive transparency copy and said spacer so as to produce thereby a first negative transparency whereon the sizes of all symbols fall within a first range of sizes less than said predetermined range, developing in a second of said layered arrangements a further resultant exposure of a light sensitive surface of a further material by directing said radiated light thereon by way of said first negative transparency and said spacer so as to produce thereto a first positive transparency whereon all symbols in said first ranges of sizes are increased in size beyond a predetermined designated size, producing by contact printing employing said first positive transparency as copy, a second negative transparency having thereon transparent reversals of said symbols of increased size, producing by contact printing employing said transparency copy as copy, a reversal transparency of said first positive transparency copy, and applying said second negative transparency as a mask upon said reversal transparency of said first positive transparency copy, and contact printing the resultant composite to produce a third positive transparency whereon all symbols appearing are no less than said predermined designated size.