GB2112175A - A method of forming composite photographic images - Google Patents

Abstract

Composite images are formed by exposing a photosensitive material sequentially to first and second originals so that the two images are superimposed. In the example the material is first exposed to a black and white image and then to a coloured sheet. On development the white areas from the first exposure are unaffected by the colour exposure but the originally black (unexposed) areas are coloured, thus a white image on a coloured background is produced.

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of photographic reproduction TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method of photographic reproduction, and to products produced by the method.

BACKGROUND ART It is often necessary or desirable to produce multicolour or multi-image artwork such as pointof-sale advertising displays, posters, or packaging.

Such multi-image effects are generally produced by printing or by colouring a basic design as desired by a colour transfer process. The prior art processes are time-consuming and expensive.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the invention there is provided a method of photographic reproduction of a plurality of images, comprising the steps of providing a first substratum having an image which is to be reproduced photographically, placing the substratum in a camera system and photographically exposing the image on the substratum to provide a photographic reproduction thereof, taking a second substratum, having an image which is to be reproduced photographically, placing the second substratum in the camera system, and photographically exposing the second image so that the second image is reproduced and superimposed photographically on the reproduction of the first image.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a print or film whenever produced by a method as hereinbefore defined in the immediately preceding paragraph.

The exposure time of the second image may be a multiple, for example a whole number multiple such as twice, of the exposure time for single image. This provides for a correct exposure time which is relatively easily controlled for a particular film or print which is produced by the method according to the invention.

A third or further image or images may be photographically reproduced sequentially and superimposed on the reproduction of the second image. Using this multi-exposure step it is possible to provide a multi-image, for example multicoloured, photographic product such as a print or film.

The first image may be a black and white image and the second image may be a coloured image so that the coloured image becomes superimposed on the black areas of the first image in the final produce. This provides a relatively simple way of providing a coloured background in the final product. The black areas of the first image are not exposed so that when the second coloured image, for example red, is exposed and is reproduced in the film or print product on the original unexposed (black) area of the first image, the coloured product is produced.

The first image may be a black and white image and the second image may be a scenic image. This provides a relatively simply way of providing a scenic background. The black areas of the first image are not exposed so that when the second scenic image is exposed and reproduced in the film or print product, on the original unexposed (black) area of the first image, the scenic product is produced.

In the method, the second substratum may be placed on top of the first substratum prior to exposing the second image. This provides a relatively simple method in that it is not necessary to remove the first substratum from the camera system prior to entering the second substratum in the system. After exposing the second image both substrata can be removed together from the camera system.

A method embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The sole Figure of the drawing shows a schematic elevational view of a camera system and the method of using it according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a camera system including a platen 1, a mirror 2 and a camera 3. In order to produce a multi coloured image on a film, print or slide using, the camera 3, a substratum 4 (solid line) including an image which has white lettering on a black ground is placed on the platen and exposed. The black background is not exposed, so that the reproduction in the camera is merely of the white lettering. In order to surround that lettering on the film in the camera with a coloured ground for example red, it is merely necessary to superpose a second substratum 5, (dashed line) which has a second image in the form of a red colouring, on the first substratum 4, and to expose the red image which is then reproduced in the camera on the previously unexposed area of film corresponding to the black area of the image on the first substratum.When the film is developed the final product has the lettering surrounded by the red ground.

It will be understood that the second substratum may carry an image other than a single colour, for example it may carry a scenic image such as a pastoral scene.

Also, although the second substratum 5 is shown as being aligned with the first substratum it may be displaced laterally thereto so that only part of the unexposed area of the first substratum is exposed. This may then be left unexposed, or a third substratum (not shown) with a third image, for example green may be superposed and that third image may be exposed to provide a red and green ground in the case of the lettering of the image of the substratum 1.

Also, the first substratum may be removed from the platen 1 before the second or further substratum are placed in the camera system. A multi-image product in the camera can equally well be produced using the method of the invention in this way.

In either embodiment, the platen is illuminated by means not shown and light from the images strikes the mirror 2 and is reflected into the camera 3.

In either embodiment too, the size of the final image is set and the exposure time, suitably twice the that for a normal exposure, is also set prior to exposure.

It will be understood that the method embodying the invention effectively injects an image such as colour on to a base or datum image in a single sequence of operations in a camera system. A method embodying the invention can be used for reverse type, type in colour, type on film or transparency.

Claims (10)

1. According to the invention there is provided a method of photographic reproduction of a plurality of images, comprising the steps of providing a first substratum having an image which is to be reproduced photographically, placing the substratum in a camera system and photographically exposing the image on the substratum to provide a photographic reproduction thereof, taking a second substratum having an image which is to be reproduced photographically, placing the second substratum in the camera system, and photographically exposing the second image so that the second image is reproduced and superimposed photographically on the reproduction of the first image.

2. A method according to Claim 1, the exposure time of the second image being a multiple of the exposure time for a single image.

3. A method according to Claim 2, the exposure time being a whole number multiple of the said time.

4. A method according to Claim 3, the exposure time being twice that for a single image.

5. A method according to any preceding Claim, including the steps of photographically reproducing a third or further image or images sequentially on the reproduction of the second image and photographically exposing the third or further image on the superimposed reproduced first and second images.

6. A method according to any preceding Claims, in which the first image is a black and white image and the second image is a coloured image, # image, so that the coloured image effectively becomes superimposed on the black areas of the first image in the final product.

7. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 5, in which the first image is a black and white image and the second image is a scenic image.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the second substratum is placed on top of the first substratum prior to exposing the second image.

9. A method according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described.

10. A method of photographic reproduction of a plurality of photographic images, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

1 1. A print or film whenever produced by a method according to any preceding claim.