Experience has shown that many of the accepted methods of recording watermarks are impractical for use in the field, especially in special collection reading rooms. The Dylux technique (pioneered by Thomas Gravell) has proven to be a safe, inexpensive, accurate, and dependable way of producing images of watermarks when it is properly used. However, some papers will not yield usable images with Dylux because of their opacity or because the printing on the paper obscures the watermark. Then other methods must be used which will accurately record the mark without damaging the paper. The challenge is to create a catalogue and archive of these images so that they can be recalled for purposes of comparison.
Proposed for this conference is a paper which utilizes experience gained during the first four years of a descriptive bibliography which uses the Dylux technique, the Williamsburg Imprints Program (background information on this program can be found on the Internet here). This discussion will recommend easily-found, portable, and inexpensive equipment for use with Dylux paper in serious watermark studies. It will explain techniques for safely getting useful Dylux images in sensitive collections and will offer sources for the required materials and give estimated costs for this equipment. The paper will also discuss an alternative method of capturing watermarks using graphite pencils and rubbing paper, as well as an inexpensive but accurate method of cataloging and storing these images. This technique utilizes commonly-available stationary supplies and allows a collection of watermark images to be kept safely and an organized fashion, but which also allows them to be transported to different collections for field comparisons to other watermarks.
Finally, this paper will cover a brief discussion on image comparison technologies (similar to that used in identifying fingerprints by law enforcement agencies) and will explore the possible application of these methods to watermark studies.