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. 

Per helped with the photos, they  are  little out of order but you will get the idea.

Bob

And after all that training I gave you...

Na it's great!  Thanks Bob

Scott W.

Micheal,

Here are a couple of  pictures of the back of the easel
if you want to build one.





Bob

















 

Michael,

Why yes its brilliant....

But we are runnin out of cat food and rolls,

Maybe now he can go back to building stuff we can sell or at least

enter in a contest.

Per

John, You still need the Norwood ( exposure meter to you Fogs in Reo Linda) but the lights are even and in the right position.

Use to do this stuff in color separations  with 8 x 10 glass plates, how old can you get