1) Is there a search function for this forum...I can't seem to find it. 2) The reason I'm asking is sometime less then a year ago the reoccurring "black borders around a print" topic once again reared it'd head. Someone with quite an extensive site answered saying that she sold masks to produce the borders. Does anyone know where this site is? thanx jim

-- Jim (p645n@hotmail.com), April 10, 2001

Answers

Response to Stupid Question (2 of them really)

If your referring to the masking easel that will give you the large boarders... I think it is Saunders who makes that particular easel.... web site... sorry.

-- Scott Walton (f64sw@hotmail.com), April 11, 2001.

Response to Stupid Question (2 of them really)

Tiffen is the North American distributor for Saunders equipment.

http://www.tiffen.com

-- Roger Bird (rpbird@home.com), April 11, 2001.

Response to Stupid Question (2 of them really)

There are two ways to make black borders around the print image. The first is to enlarge the negative carrier opening so that some of the clear film around the image is exposed giving a black border around the image. This usually give soft-edged transitions between the white paper and the outside edge of the black border.

If you want a sharp-edged black border, then you have to expose the black border separately from the print meaning you need to mask the print area during the exposure for the border while having a sharp edge (like an easel blade) in contact with the paper during the exposure. I am not familiar with a Saunders easel that will do this, but it would certainly be worth looking at their site.

-- steve (s.swinehart@worldnet.att.net), April 11, 2001.

Response to Stupid Question (2 of them really)

There is no built-in search function for the forum. However, if you go to the link at the bottom of the page under "Older Messages (by category)", "Uncategorized," you can use your browser edit function to search through the subject lines of all posts. There is no way to search anything other than the subject lines.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), April 11, 2001.

Response to Stupid Question (2 of them really)

Several years ago I recall seeing a device that gave any size print black borders. I believe it consisted of some sort of magnetic mask & required 2 exposures. Unfortunately I haven't seen this gadget advertised for several years. (The last being Porter's camera store.) If this device can be located I would be interested in purchasing it.

-- Robert Orofino (minotaur1949@aol.com), April 11, 2001.

Response to Stupid Question (2 of them really)

Robert: the kit you are thinking of was made by Pace. In fact, they made two magnetic mask sets, one for shaped images, e.g. oval images, and one for image borders. The kit contains masks to make black borders for a 5x7 image on an 8x10 sheet, or an 8x10 on an 11x14 sheet. Watch eBay. They both come up there from time to time. Usually, no one knows what they are!

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), April 11, 2001.

Response to Stupid Question (2 of them really)

Greetings,

In addition to suggestions in the previous posts, Calumet advertises a masking easel that can be setup to produce black borders around prints. I've never used this easel, but have read a description and the setup doesn't sound easy. Also, the ease is pricey. Calumet is on the WEB and they have a picture of the easel.

Regards,

-- Pete Caluori (pcaluori@hotmail.com), April 11, 2001.

Response to Stupid Question (2 of them really)

Jim, another alternative is to go to your local framing shop and have them make a standard mat but save the cutout. Now you can overlay the mat and print normally then put the cutout with something weighty, like an Ansel Adams book and take out the mat border and expose for max black. A cheap but effective alternative.

j

-- John Welton (jwelton2@home.com), April 14, 2001.