RE: Masking contact prints
Hi Jon, You can use four strips of fully exposed (dmax something like log 4 or 5) imagesetter film. The width of the strips should be something around 1 - 1.5". (As much as you want actually; just pay attention to not apply sensitizer beyond that limit.) You'll need two long strips for the long edges and two short strips for the short edges of your prints. It's a good idea to size them at maximum which is allowed by your contact printing frame, that way you'll have only four strips accomodating all print sizes possible with that particular contact printing frame. You'll just have to tape them to each other in order to form a rectangular of the right size. Layer order would be: 1. glass, 2. masking frame (emulsion facing down), 3. negative (emulsion facing you) and 4. paper (coated side facing the down). Since imagesetter film is extremely thin, you shouldn't experience any perceptible sharpness loss on the edges. (Very little, if any...) You can try to paint the edge of the masking frame with black permanent marker in order to lessen reflections. Hope this helps, Loris. ________________________________ From: sharperstill@gmail.com [mailto:sharperstill@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Jon Reid Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 1:07 PM To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca Subject: Masking contact prints ... Anyway, my question to the group is as follows. I'd like to know peoples ideas for best way to mask the neg during exposure to prevent black borders. My method which is failing was to cut a 5x7 rectangle in a piece of black card and to stick the negative into this card using ruby-lith to not only hold it in place but to mask the shoulder/film edge etc and create a clean rectangle. The thickness of the card is about equal to the film and thr uby-lith was on the glass-side. I intend to exhibit these images and wish to present them un-matted, on 11x14 paper. What's happening is that next to the print edges, about 1mm away, I am getting sporadic short lines of exposure that looks like it's refracting through the film-edge or something. As stated I want to exhibit these unmatted and would like to know if anyone has a better way of masking these negs accurately?
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