printing 1/8" black border

[thescarletmole]

Years ago I bought a set of masks for various size papers. Each mask was comprised of two pieces, the outer piece had an outside dimension that matched the paper, e.g. 8 x 10. This was placed on the paper before exposure and covered aprox 1" all around the paper. Then having made the exposure you place the inner mask inside the outer mask, then remove the neg and expose. The outer edge of the inner mask had a 1/8" clear border.
This gave me a print with a 1" white border and a 1/8" black border around the image itself.
I have searched everywhere and can't find this type mask, tried several stores that sell darkroom supplies, nobody knows what I'm talking about. Can't find them at Adorama either.

Can anyone out there help.

 

[Jim Moore]

Those show up on eBay quite often, you might try keeping an eye on the darkroom section.

I purchased on of these about 6 months ago.

http://www.calumetphoto.com/ctl?PAG...=LM5005&ac.cat.CatTree.detail=y&type=PRDINDEX

You might need to click twice on the link to get it to work.

It's a great easel, but I find that I don't really care for the black border on my prints, so it doesn't get much use.

I'll make you a great deal on it if you're interested.

Jim

 

[Lee L]

You could also use a standard 4 blade easel to mask the outside. Then cut a piece of opaque black card stock 1/8 inch shorter than the inside dimensions of the blade settings. Tuck the card up into one corner and expose the two opposite edges with sufficient light for black, then slide the card to the diagonally opposite corner and expose the two remaining sides to make them black.

Lee

 

[andre laredo]

works even better if you take the neg out after the main exposure.

 

[John Cook]

I used to have a commercially-made set of them in popular paper sizes. The inner solid piece shaded the image from the border exposure. The outer frame with an open center was for the image exposure and to line up the center piece position. The black border was exposed with the negative out of the enlarger.

The whole kit was made from magnetized rubber sheeting. The stuff now used for business cards which stick to refrigerators. With a sharp knife you probably can make your own. Any size/format required.

Everything attached to a Saunders steel borderless easel.

 

[blaze-on]

Welcome back JIM!

JMoore, glad to see you back posting again...