Stephen Henry Horgan (February 2, 1854 – August 30, 1941), was the inventor of the

halftone Halftone is the reprographic Reprography (a portmanteau of ''reproduction'' and ''photography'') is the reproduction of graphics through mechanical or electrical means, such as photography or xerography. Reprography is commonly used in catal ...

process for newspaper usage, and early-on improvements.

Biography

Stephen Henry Horgan was born in Norfolk, Virginia on February 2, 1854. The half-tone method he invented was to use a glass screen with fine lines in it which translated the gradations of an image when placed between a light-sensitive metal plate and a negative. The final image created was a metal picture made of black dots surrounded by white. It is said that he was fired from that job by ''Herald'' publisher

James Gordon Bennett, Jr. James Gordon Bennett Jr. (May 10, 1841May 14, 1918) was publisher of the '' New York Herald'', founded by his father, James Gordon Bennett Sr. (1795–1872), who emigrated from Scotland. He was generally known as Gordon Bennett to distinguish hi ...

, who described the idea as idiotic. Horgan then went over to their rival, ''

The Daily Graphic ''The Daily Graphic: An Illustrated Evening Newspaper'' was the first American newspaper with daily illustrations. It was founded in New York City in 1873 by Canadian engravers George-Édouard Desbarats and William Leggo, and began publication ...

''. The ''Graphic'' debuted half-tone printing with the first printed photograph of an image of Steinway Hall in Manhattan, published on December 2, 1873. His Shantytown scene was printed by them in 1880. It was "the first reproduction of a photograph with a full tonal range in a newspaper." Horgan was the first to create a newspaper image with a rotary/power press. He was then working for the '' New-York Tribune'' in 1897. A major breakthrough, this brought about the rapid increase of illustrations in dailies. Horgan received the

AIGA medal Following is a list of AIGA medalists who have been awarded the American Institute of Graphic Arts medal. On its website, AIGA says "The medal of the AIGA, the most distinguished in the field, is awarded to individuals in recognition of their exc ...

in 1924 for his invention. He contributed an article on

Frederick W. von Egloffstein Frederick Wilhelm von Egloffstein (18 May 1824 – 18 February 1885) was a German-born military man, explorer, mapmaker, landscape artist and engraver. He was the first person to employ ruled glass screens, together with photography, to produce ...

to the ''

Catholic Encyclopedia The ''Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church'' (also referred to as the ''Old Catholic Encyclopedia'' and the ''Original Catholic Encyclopedia'') i ...

''. Stephen Henry Horgan died in Orange, New Jersey on August 30, 1941.

References

1854 births 1941 deaths 19th-century American inventors AIGA medalists Contributors to the Catholic Encyclopedia New-York Tribune personnel {{US-inventor-stub