Masking to RBT mounts. Recycling old aluminum masks

[JGoldenRRP@xxxxxxx]

Bob Aldridge wrote about the innovative use of aluminum masks sandwiched
between RBT mounts for custom masking.


Recycle your scrap aluminum....
I have found that with thinner aluminum  masks such as the old Realist
type....or EMDE.....they can be sandwiched between RBTs to customize
images....with no effect to the pin and hole system that holds the two halves
of the RBT together.
However....Albion masks are, I believe, thicker....thus the spreading effect
may occur....but I personally dont know as I have only tried with EMDE and
old Realist scrap.
......and Bob mentioned that this causes the RBT projector to jam.  Yes, it
is unfortunate that the RBT slide handling is so precise and particular that
any mount that is at all thicker than an RBT can tend to hang up the slide
chamber.....but this is not so for other stereo projectors.

Below is my first experience of custom masking with aluminum to the RBT....as
written in the RBT newsletter.

MAKING EASY CUSTOM MASKS  Take metal masks, and cut them to fit horizontally
 between the snap pegs of an RBT, and then clamp it shut with the white half.
 The slide looks great and projects perfectly (except in RBT projectors where
the mount may get hung up in the changer), I do it all the time for tough
close-ups...a great benefit!!  I found this out by accident when I wanted to
use an aerial hyper stereo shot Paul Wing had given me.  He custom masked the
image using cutting of metal masks.  Problem was, my show was in RBT's,
mixing formats doesn't look great when projecting, due to the different
spacing between stereo pairs.  Paul created a custom mask by taking a
7-sprocket metal mask and closing down the vertical by almost 25%.  I tried
re-mounting to a standard RBT-7, but the emulsions had too much vertical
offset, thus Paul had created the custom mask to allow more vertical "play"
for correct mounting.  
I took a metal mask, then, using scissors, I trimmed the mask, at the top
outer edge, to make it sit snug between the snap pegs, and clamped it shut.
 I projected the image, Paul Wing was impressed when I showed him, and he's a
tough guy to please!  Try making your own custom masks, once you get the hang
of it, it's easy. 

For more information on the RBT mounts feel free to email me and if you want
a sample.....specify what format you shoot....and I'll send a sample to try
with your old aluminum masks.
Jon Golden RBT USA


------------------------------