Historical information

These five photographs were most likely taken in the 1970s in Lithographic Squadron at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo. Photos .1P to .3P are annotated with the name of the technicians written on the back. Although Photo .4P is not annotated the technician is positively identified. In these five photos the technician is applying a UV-sensitive pigmented dye emulating one of the print colours to a white opaque polyester sheet mounted on a rotating table in a whirler. The coated sheet was dried before placement in a vacuum light frame beneath a stud registered map negative. They were then exposed to a carbon arc lamp. If there was more than one negative – typical for a type impression or 1st proof, the process was repeated for the other negatives of that print colour. There was a single exposure for composite negatives which was typical for the 2nd and final proof - the pre-press proof. The sheet was removed and washed with water and dried leaving the exposed colour impression. The technician repeated this process using process or spot dyes for remaining publication colours. Type impressions were a combination of the map grid and the topographic features in their correct print colours, forming a base for the cartographer to accurately position map names and symbols on a clear film overlay. The pre-press proof was a cost-effective way of producing a one-off visual copy of the map or chart product. It enabled cartographers to perform a quality inspection and correct any faults before publication. The pre-press proof was deemed authoritative before its release to Print Troop for bulk printing and distribution.

Physical description

This is a set of photographs of lithographic technicians preparing map proofs at the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo c1960s c1970s. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi.
.1) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, SGT Graham Jeffers, Lithographic Squadron
.2) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, SGT Ken Slater Lithographic Squadron
.3) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Ian ‘Loft’ Turner, Lithographic Squadron
.4) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Gary Kerr, Lithographic Squadron
.5) - Photo, black & white, c1960s, unidentified, Lithographic Squadron

Inscriptions & markings

.1 to .3 – personnel names (less rank) annotated on back.
.4 to .5P – no annotation