[photo-3d] Spicer corners

["John Goodman" <jgood@xxxxxxxx>]

As a recent Spicer cardboard mount convert, I have no 
complaints worth mentioning. But I'd very much like to know 
the origin and history of the rounded window corners. Are they 
based on historical precedent? Are there equal aesthetic merits 
for "square" and "rounded" corners defining stereo windows? 
Are there warring camps?  :>)  It would seem that except for 
Spicers, the majority of current mounts have sharp, ninety 
degree window corners.  

In scanning mounted stereoviews, I find that Spicer-mounted 
views present an additional challenge :  how to preserve the 
rounded  corners. Since pains were taken to set the window 
when mounting in the first place, it would seem a shame not to 
include the rounded corners of the chip frames when "digitally" 
mounting the view. Considerable area will be lost if forced to 
use square-cornered frames within the round-cornered 
windows, not to mention the additional cropping choices. On 
the other hand, scanned window frames usually show edge 
reflections, or a bit of micro-fuzz, so precision masks that fit 
just inside the scanned mount windows, and additional care 
when using your choice of graphic app, are needed or helpful. 
This isn't meant as a criticism of Spicer mounts; it's just 
something I'm finding along the way.

John Goodman