JAPAN
the block, one of its corners in the rectangular nick, its edge against the guiding line, and retained in position by one of the printer's hands. He will next proceed to pass a flat padded disc over the back of the paper with his other hand, exercising the requisite amount of pressure with his arm. The whole of this process will be repeated until he has printed off the number of outline proofs required for the first issue. He then replaces the outline block with one of the colour blocks, and applies the colour to the portions of the surface that are in relief. Should any shading be required, he will carefully wipe the colour in gradation partially off the requisite portions with either his hand or a damp rag. This shading, of course, requires very nice manipulation, but it is a process not unknown to English etchers. One of the outline proofs is now placed on the colour block, its corner in the nick, and its edge against the guiding line, so that the coloured portions take their right position in the picture. The padded disc is now passed over the proof, after which it is removed and fresh colour having been applied, another proof takes the place of the former. This process will be continued until the proofs of the first issue have all been printed in one colour. Then the process is similarly repeated with each colour block in turn, and the first issue of our nishiki-ye is now finished and ready for the market. It will probably be a small issue, to the end that the artist, should he not be contented with the result, may be able to make alterations before the outline block has lost its freshness. Such alterations may be effected in several ways, either by an entire redistribution of colour on the old colour blocks, by the substitution of new colour blocks for old, or by an increase in their number.
It is not unusual to employ a block carved with a design of some sort which is not coloured, but serves to stamp a pattern in relief. In printing from such blocks extra pressure is resorted to. Some of the effects thus obtained are very attractive.
To obtain good prints it is necessary, in the first place, that the nick and guiding lines should be exactly in their right place on each block, and, in the second, that the54
