Copying Art and photos with Swenson's Copy Aid.
I have a lot of Photographs to archive where I don't have the negatives so I built this Festool powered
vacuum easel to make the job easy.
Many Moons ago when I started as a assistant photographer the lowly task of copying art was the task of the assistant. I soon learned to test the lights with the shadow of my finger but eventually thought of a better way. Now All Foggolians will know how to make and use a simple aid in photo copying.
You will need two lights on stands with identical bulbs of the same wattage. I f they are not the same they will burn at a different color temperature and be hard to match. You can make the copy aid with
Foam core. Cut one piece 8 x 10 and one piece 3 x 3. Glue the 3 x3 on the 8 x10 piece as in the first Photo . Use a square to make sure it is at a right angle. Draw a line 3" from the top right of the 3 x 3
and 3" from the top left. Now draw two 3" lines down at right angles both left and right as in the photo Blacken the front of the 3" piece of foam core and you are ready to go.
First copy, just an other shot
Place the Copy aid in the center of your copy area and turn on one of the lights. These Lights should be to the left and right of your copy camera. Adjust the first light so that the shadow of the light touches the top line all the way to the vertical line. Now do the same with the other light. Look at the shadows. Are they the same? If not than move the lights in or out until the shadows match. You can now see why it is important to have identical bulbs. Matching the intensity a yellow shadow with a gray one is impossible.
Your lights are now perfectly placed at the correct hight and 45 degrees to the copy area. Your area is evenly lit.
Level your camera and move it left or right, up or down until the copy aid is dead center in your camera and you can't see either side, or top or bottom of the of the 3" indicator, only the black front.
You are now ready to Copy.
Bob
I wonder how many lurking photographers will see this and sign up to see the pictures.
I would remind them that by publishing in this forum, ideas, jigs, methods of work, or patentable
devices, negates any one else from making claims of "NEW AND NOVEL" and that is the basis of all patent and copyright claims.
Stay tuned for Bob's pocket Bi-pod. Steady your camera for sharper shots.
