'Natural' black borders, created by using an oversize negative carrier, pose specific problems. The physical size of the negative may depend on the focal length of the lens; this is certainly the case with screw and M Leicas. A 21mm lens produces a negative almost 2mm bigger than a 90mm lens because the rear element is so close to the film that it can project the image 'under' the film gate edges. Most modern enlarger carriers do not allow a black border, and if they do you must take great care to ensure that light does not hit parts of the enlarger easel next to the image, as it can reflect locally and cause fogged patches.
Cutting cards to go inside a masking easel aperture for a second exposure is not an ideal solution as the card has thickness as well as a less than perfect cut edge.
The best solution is a full size contact line negative overlay (as shown above - ignore the central text, as this is part of the article, not part of the negative!) made on lith film developed to high density. Ideally, this should be mounted permanently in an old masking or contact-printing frame, set underneath an old enlarger used as a source of controlled white light. You may need to place the film under slight tension to ensure good contact during overlay printing, or use a central weighted card.
Despite the copyright date, which refers only to the print, this is a twenty-year-old neg from the editor. He now deeply regrets that as a result of this and several other pictures of the same kind, taken at this location and published very large in newspapers, the entire row of buildings was torn down. Twenty years later, some former residents are still living in trailers in the 'travellers' park next to the dump site which now occupies this spot. Today, the terrace would have been gutted and improved - not removed.
The print is first exposed in a masking easel adjusted accurately so that when the mask exposure is added, the black borderline precisely covers the boundary of the image. This needs an accurate adjustable easel of good quality - Beard, Saunders, Kostiner or one of the heavier duty LPLs.
The advantage of a line negative border mask is that it can have a double rule, 'scotch' rule (thick and thin lines), or a very fine accurate penline rule which does not touch the image. You can also add your signature and a copyright notice. One line mask will serve for both landscape and portrait compositions as it can have the signature or notice in two positions. You simply cover up whichever one is not needed with a small piece of card.
Now Photon can offer readers custom-made line border overlays. These can be made for any paper size smaller than 16 x 12". We need a same-size tracing or drawing from you, showing the exact position and size of the border you want to print, on the paper size you will be using. Accurate dimensions should be marked on this. A copy of your signature can be provided if you would like this scanning and positioning, or wording for a copyright text ("Original photograph by A. N. Other"). Indicate the position and rough size of this text for both horizontal and vertical use. Unless specifically requested, all text is set in 8 point HELVETICA BOLD capitals.
It is also possible to include scanned company logos and full address details, provided with a clear layout, for an additional charge of �5.
The negative overlay provided will have a dimensionally-stable polyester film base and a density of approximately 4.0, sufficient to eliminate fogging through the black. It may be necessary to opaque out small pinholes which can appear on lith materials.
The costs of the overlays, including packing, postage and VAT, are:
Further ordering information is here if you want it.
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