Popular Science Alonthly 



Photographic Printing Masks 

 Easily Made 



PRINTING masks are easily made from 

 the black paper found in all negative 

 boxes. After determining the size of 

 opening desired, a rectangular mask is cut 

 as follows: 



Take a sheet that is large enough to 

 fully cover the negative and fold it two 

 \va>s to make four thicknesses. Make the 

 folded edges exactly even with each other — 

 they will then be perfectly square. Lay 

 off at right angles to the shorter fold, 

 one-half of the longer dimension of the 



— I CUT AND 

 j-PASTED ON 



OUTLINE OF 



FINISHED 



MASK 



931 



It may be improved by moistening be- 

 tween two damp blotters in the press till 

 the folds disappear. A number of modified 

 corners may be devised for use with such 

 rectangles by the aid of the red paper seals 

 sold by stationers, or a little ingenuity will 

 enable the operator to cut these designs 

 from the black paper with scissors. 



Oval, elliptical, or circular masks, can 

 be cut with shears, after laying out one- 

 fourth of the figure as shown in the illustra- 

 tion. Finally, any special shape, symmetri- 

 cal about one axis, can be laid out with 

 pencil on a doubled sheet (the fold forming 



RED PAPER DISK 

 GUMMED ON 



CORNER OF 

 MASK 



OUTLINE OF 



FINISHED 



MASK 



CUT WITH 



SCISSORS 



OUTLINE OF 



FINISHED 



MASK 



SHIPPING TAG 



FINISHED 

 MASK 



TA NOENT 



ELLIPTICAL MASK MADE WITH ONE CUT 

 OF SHEARS 



FANCY CORNERS 

 AT ONE CUT 



KNIFE FOR CUTTING MATS AND MASKS 



All patterns for making cut-outs and fancy comers for photographic masks are easily formed 

 with a four fold paper, cutting all the quarters at the same time with a pair of sharp scissors 



opening desired, and mark, preferably by 

 nicking the folds with the point of a sharp 

 knife. Do the same with one-half of the 

 short dimension on the other folds. Lay 

 a straight edge (an old negative will do), 

 on the nick. Repeat the measurement to 

 the straight-edge at the outer edge of the 

 folded sheet. Nick this with the knife. 

 Draw a fine pencil line between the two 

 nicks. Repeat with the remaining measure- 

 ment. Cut along the straight edge from 

 the pencil line to the nick. Cut at right 

 angles along the pencil line from the first 

 cut to the nick. When opened up, a true 

 rectangle of the required size is obtained. 



the axis) and cut with shears. The results, 

 after a little practice will be absolutely 

 satisfactory, and will be endless in variety. 



For larger sizes, the various geometrical 

 figures can be laid out with accuracy by 

 the use of drafting instruments. Directions 

 for describing all ordinary geometrical 

 figures can be found in almost every 

 engineer's hand-book. 



To describe an ellipse, however, with 

 little trouble, requires only a rule, two 

 jiins, a piece of string and a pencil. Having 

 determined the length and width, draw 

 two axes at right angles. The intersection 

 is marked A in the diagram. From B lay off 



