Current Status of Electrostatic Reproduction Processes.

Everyone concerned with graphic arts should become familiar with the new electrostatic image-forming processes because such processes are beginning to reach the commercial market, to which they seem destined to expand in the next decade. One company has major commercial activity in this field, several others have announced commercial equipment, and many companies are conducting research. Different forms of electrostatic processes have much in common: They all include the forming of an electrostatic image - by light rays or X-rays, by corona charging, or by gaseous discharge between electrodes; all include the making visible of this image by the electrostatic attraction of a powder; and all include fixing this particulate image. The processes differ primarily in the method of forming the electrostatic image, the substrate for the electrostatic image, and the substrate for the powder image. While limited essentially to line copy at present for commercial work, electrostatic processes are capable of producing microfilm images, continuous-tone images rivaling silver halide photography, and decorative images for ceramics, plastics, metal, or cloth.