The ingredients (i parts of whiting to 1 part of pure glycerine) must be thoroughly mixed. Reduce the whiting to a fine powder; mix half the required quantity with all the glycerine, and beat up thoroughly. About twelve hours later, add the remaining powdered whiting. Spread out the composition in a dish or tin. If the glycerine comes to the surface after standing a short time, sprinkle a little powdered whiting over it, roll up the mass, thoroughly knead it, and again spread it out smoothly. Repeat until the composition is firm, but not absolutely dry. The copier will be useless if the glycerine is repeatedly wiped away. For use at lengthy intervals, keep the copier well covered; and if the top is too wet for use, do not remove the moisture, but beat up the whole of the composition, and spread it out evenly again. If it is too dry, add a little glycerine. Graphs on which the original writing is transferred cannot yield a number of copies all equal in strength, as with each impression the quantity of ink on the graph decreases. Therefore, if twelve copies are required, let the first few sheets of paper rest on the transferred writing about twenty seconds; gradually increase the time of contact, letting the twelfth remain about two minutes.

To obtain twenty-five copies, proceed as follows. Take the first ten or twelve impressions quickly, and directly they have been smoothed lift them over the graph. Then allow each succeeding paper to remain rather longer on the graph than the one preceding. By writing with Judson's violet dye, sixty perfectly legible copies can be obtained. Not more than thirty copies can be expected from an original written with Stephens' liquid ebony stain, and it is well to limit the number to twenty-four or twenty-five. Always write the original on thick, smooth-surfaced paper. Paper of a spongy texture must not be used. Keep a good supply of ink always in the pen, which should have a very fine point; Perry & Co.'s ladies' pens, fine points, are recommended. Firm, thin lines give best results. Put a sheet of clean paper on the graph, and pass a flat stick over it to make a perfectly smooth surface. Directly the writing loses its wet appearance, place it face downwards on the graph; be certain that every portion of the writing comes in contact with the composition, and leave it so from ten to fifteen minutes. This length of contact while transferring does not apply to gelatine graphs, into which the ink rapidly sinks, whereas in the one under discussion the ink is inclined to get to the surface.

The ink will not transfer so readily if dry and hard when placed on the copier. Get ready the sheets of paper whereon the impressions are to appear; gently remove the original from the graph; take the first copy quickly, and examine it closely to discover faulty words caused by air bubbles or depressions forming on the surface of the graph. Note the exact position of the fault on the composition, proceed with the second copy, and, while the paper is on the graph, press gently on the defective parts with a knife handle or other hard, smooth substance. This will level the composition. When sufficient impressions have been obtained, wash off the writing with a wet cloth or sponge. Remove any excess of water with clean white paper. Avoid using blotting-paper and like substances for this purpose. To gain experience for taking impressions of a larger size start with something of a postcard size. Put a strip of paper at one end of the graph as a guide for placing the sheets of paper evenly over the writing. Let one edge of a sheet lie level with the guiding strip, and draw a hard wooden ruler or other smooth piece of hard wood over the top of the paper to ensure every part touching the writing with equal pressure.

The writing may be in two colours, and copied simultaneously, but it is more difficult to time the length of contact necessary than when copied separately.