Vignettes & Masks - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Vignettes & Masks

Image of Vignettes & Masks

Vignettes were used when printing portraits to give a soft outline to the centre of the image and stop the edges of the negative from printing. The vignette is held a little way above the paper to diffuse its outlines, a slot is sometimes found in printing frames for this. A popular, early, type was a piece of red/yellow glass with a clear central part. Other forms were of card or metal. Several mechanical models were made allowing the central area to be altered in size and shape.

References & Notes:
Cyclopedia of Photography, p. 557.

Sershall's Patent Vignette Papers

1890

Celluloid.

References & Notes:
BP 10012/1890.

Primus Adjustable Vignettes

W. Butcher & Sons

London

England

Quarter-plate, 3 cardboard mounts with cotton wool surrounding oval cut-outs.

With:
Box.

Primus Masks and Disks

W. Butcher & Sons

London

England

Quarter-plate, 50 masks.

For producing borders on prints. Price 1/-.

With:
Box.

Primus Caricature Negatives, Sporting Series

W. Butcher & Sons

London

England

Quarter-plate. These are line drawn caricature vignettes. The photographer includes the head of a person by secondary printing. Produced in at least two sizes - quarter-plate and postcard and in three subjects - sports, seaside and indoor games. The price on the packet is 1/-.

With:
Packet.

References & Notes:
BJA 1908, p. 167. Photographic Fashions, p. 114.

20th Century Border Negatives

20th Century Photographic Co. Ltd

London

England

Ornate borders and mattes some with interchangeable mottoes. Postcard size.

These are border negatives with elaborate designs resembling greeting cards of the period. The 'border negative' is mainly opaque with transparent and semi-transparent lines and sections, this is printed from first. The border negative is then removed and replaced with the corresponding mask, the user's negative is then printed into the main area not covered by the mask.

Four examples with different themes.

With:
Instructions. Envelope.

Valu Border Negatives

W. Butcher & Sons

London

England

Three glass plates with elaborate floral designs. Quarter-plate.

With:
Instructions. Box.

Ensign See-thru Masks

Ensign Ltd

London

England

  • Packet, three orange celluloid masks. 2 ½" x 3 ½".
  • Packet, three orange celluloid masks. 1 ⅞" x 1 ½". Retailer's label: G E Becket & Co. 77 - 79 Oxford Rd. Manchester.

Ensign Printing Masks

Houghtons Ltd

London

England

  • 25 masks. Postcard size. Price 6d. Sold by: Chas. W. Usher MPS. Amble.
  • 25 masks. 2 ½" x 3 ½" size. Price 6d. Two examples.
  • 25 masks. 1/4 plate size. Price 6d.

Glass Vignettes

Yellow-orange tint. 4" x 5".

"Specialist" Transparent Printing Masks

3 ½" x 2 ½".

"Specialist" Printing Masks

3 ½" x 2 ½".

Salmon's Vignetter

Salmon & Son

London

England

Image of Salmon's Vignetter

Half-plate.

This was one of the better vignette devices, the cut-outs are placed in the vignette frame, different heights can be chosen and they can also be placed at an angle. A frame carrying a muslin screen is placed over the top. Aluminium rails are attached to a normal printing frame, the vignette frame is then able to move within the rails.

Produced in quarter, half and whole plate sizes as well as a superior version with its own printing frame.

References & Notes:
BP 13040/1896. BJA 1896, p. 374.

Salmon's Vignetter

Salmon & Son

London

England

Half-plate.

Salmon's Vignetter

Salmon & Son

London

England

Image of Salmon's Vignetter

Quarter-plate.

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