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
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
Quarter-plate.