The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 21, 1994
Ralph R Gaetano, Bethel Park, PA (US);
Think, Inc., West Mifflin, PA (US);
Abstract
A masking guide includes a plurality of masking frames each having a different peripheral dimension for positioning the frames concentrically one within another in a nested arrangement. Each masking frame has an aperture and the dimensions of the aperture vary from a base frame having an aperture of greatest dimension to an innermost masking frame having an aperture of the least dimension. The masking frames are positioned so that the dimensions of the apertures progressively decrease from the base frame to the innermost frame. The frames are pivotally connected one within another, permitting the frames to be raised and lowered relative to a proof. A photographic proof is positioned in underlying relation with the masking guide. The proof has a full print area which is exposed entirely through the aperture of the base frame. The remaining frames mask a selected portion of the full print area of the proof. As the masking frames are progressively moved into a position overlying the proof to expose the proof through each masking frame, a percentage of the print area is excluded from exposure through the aperture. Each masking frame corresponds to a negative mounting card having an aperture exposing the same print area or composition of the negative as the area of the proof which is exposed. Once the desired composition of a proof is selected from a masking frame, the corresponding negative mounting card is used to mount the negative.