Method and apparatus for making a print of an object

A method of making a print of an object, photographed by a stereo camera to provide first and second stereo transparencies thereof, comprises copying one of the first and second transparencies to prepare a third transparency. The first transparency and the third transparency are optically superimposed on each other to provide a first combination of light. A line screen negative is prepared having a plurality of black lines of equal thickness in parallel relation equidistantly spaced from each other by clear lines equal in thickness to the black lines. Photosensitive material is exposed to the first combination of light via the line screen negative to provide a first exposure. The second transparency and the third transparency are optically superimposed on each other to provide a second combination of light. The line screen negative is shifted in position by the thickness of a black line thereof on the first exposure. The photosensitive material is re-exposed to the second combination of light via the shifted line screen negative to expose the lines of the first exposure covered by the black lines of the negative in providing the first exposure to provide a complete exposure. The complete exposure is printed as a single print. The print is lenticulated whereby it appears to be three-dimensional to a human eye.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making a print 
of an object. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and 
apparatus for making a print of an object, photographed by a stereo camera 
to provide a pair of stereo transparencies thereof, which print appears to 
the human eye to be three-dimensional. 
The principal object of the invention is to provide a method of making a 
print of an object, which print appears to the human eye to be 
three-dimensional. 
An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for making a print of an 
object, which print appears to the human eye to be three-dimensional. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of making a print of 
an object, which method has few steps which are accomplished with 
facility, convenience and rapidity. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of making a 
print of an object, which method is simply undertaken and provides, with 
facility and convenience, a print which appears to the human eye to be 
three-dimensional. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for making a 
print of an object, which apparatus is of simple structure and is 
inexpensive in manufacture. 
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of simple structure 
for making, with efficiency, effectiveness and reliability, a print of an 
object, which print appears to the human eye to be three-dimensional. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention, a method of making a print of an object, 
photographed by a stereo camera to provide first and second stereo 
transparencies thereof, which print appears so the human eye to be 
three-dimensional, comprises copying one of the first and second 
transparencies to prepare a third transparency. The first transparency 
provided by the stereo camera and the third transparency are optically 
superimposed on each other to provide a first combination of light. A line 
screen negative is prepared having a plurality of black lines of equal 
thickness in parallel relation equidistantly spaced from each other by 
clear lines equal in thickness to the black lines. Photosensitive material 
is exposed to the first combination of light via the line screen negative 
to provide a first exposure. The second transparency provided by the 
stereo camera and the third transparency are optically superimposed on 
each other to provide a second combination of light. The line screen 
negative is shifted in position by the thickness of a black line thereof 
on the first exposure. The photosensitive material is re-exposed to the 
second combination of light via the shifted line screen negative to expose 
the lines of the first exposure covered by the black lines of the negative 
in providing the first exposure to provide a complete exposure. The 
complete exposure is printed as a single print. The print is lenticulated 
whereby it appears to be three-dimensional to a human eye. 
The print is lenticulated via the same number of lines per unit length as 
the lines per unit length of the line screen negative. 
In accordance with the invention, apparatus for making a print of an 
object, photographed by a stereo camera to provide first and second stereo 
transparencies thereof, which print appears to the human eye to be 
three-dimensional, comprises a third transparency which is a copy of one 
of the first and second transparencies. Optical means first superimposes 
the first transparency provided by the stereo camera and the third 
transparency on each other to provide a first combination of light and 
then superimposes the second transparency provided by the stereo camera 
and the third transparency on each other to provide a second combination 
of light. A line screen negative has a plurality of black lines of equal 
thickness in parallel relation equidistantly spaced from each other by 
clear lines equal in thickness to the black lines. Viewing means provides 
viewing of the transparencies in the optical means to permit selective 
positioning thereof to insure exact superimposition thereof. Positioning 
means first exposes photosensitive material to the first combination of 
light via the line screen negative to provide a first exposure and then 
shifts the line screen negative in position by the thickness of a black 
line thereof on the first exposure, and re-exposes the photosensitive 
material to the second combination of light via the shifted line screen 
negative to expose the lines of the first exposure covered by the black 
lines of the negative in providing the first exposure to provide a 
complete exposure. Printing means prints the complete exposure as a single 
print. Lenticular means is provided on the print whereby it appears to be 
three-dimensional to a human eye. 
The lenticular means has the same number of lines per unit length as the 
lines per unit length of the line screen negative. 
The lengticular means comprises a sheet of transparent material having a 
plurality of spaced parallel lines formed therein by corrugations formed 
in one surface of the sheet. The sheet has a predetermined number of lines 
per unit length. 
The optical means positions the transparencies substantially 
perpendicularly to each other. The viewing means comprises a substantially 
tube-like viewing member extending substantially perpendicularly from the 
optical device and having spaced opposite first and second ends. The 
viewing member is open at its first and second ends. Viewing lens means 
and an adjustable polaroid filter are mounted in the viewing member at the 
first end thereof. The second end of the viewing member is affixed to the 
optical device. 
The viewing lens means comprises a platform slidably mounted in the optical 
device. A substantially cubic frame mounted on the platform has a first 
pair of spaced parallel open sides in planes substantially perpendicular 
to the platform. A second pair of spaced parallel closed sides are 
substantially perpendicular to the first pair of sides and join the first 
pair of sides. A third pair of spaced parallel sides, including a top and 
a bottom juxtaposed with the platform, are substantially perpendicular to 
the first and second pairs of sides and join said sides. A first viewing 
means is provided in the top for viewing a first of the transparencies. 
Transparent mirror means extends at substantially 45.degree. with the 
platform between the juncture of the bottom of the side of the first pair 
of sides closest to the sighting lens means and the juncture of the top 
and the other of the first pair of sides. The second of the transparencies 
is provided at the other of the first pair of sides. A hole is formed 
through the platform to permit exposure of the transparencies after 
viewing of said transparencies. 
In accordance with the invention, a viewing device for simultaneously 
viewing first and second items positioned substantially perpendicularly to 
each other, comprises a viewing lens means comprising a platform slidably 
mounted in the optical device. A substantially cubic frame mounted on the 
platform has a first pair of spaced parallel open sides in planes 
substantially perpendicular to the platform. A second pair of spaced 
parallel closed sides are substantially perpendicular to the first pair of 
sides and join the first pair of sides. A third pair of spaced parallel 
sides includes a top and a bottom juxtaposed with the platform, and 
substantially perpendicular to the first and second pairs of sides and 
joining said sides. A first viewing means is provided in the top for 
viewing a first of the items. Transparent mirror means extends at 
substantially 45.degree. with the platform between the juncture of the 
bottom and a viewing side of the first pair of sides and the juncture of 
the top and the other of the first pair of sides. The second of the items 
is provided at the other of the first pair of sides thereby permitting the 
first and second items to be viewed in superimposed relation with each 
other. A hole is formed through the platform to permit exposure of the 
items after they have been viewed. 
Each of the first and second items comprises a photographic transparency.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The method of the invention makes a print of an object, which print appears 
to the human eye to be three-dimensional. The object is photographed by a 
stereo camera of any suitable known type such as, for example, a Duplex 
120 Stereo Camera, a Kodak Stereo F:3.5 Synch, a Revere Stereo F:3.5 Rfdr, 
or the like. Furthermore, any 35mm camera may be converted into a 3d 
stereo camera by a commercially available prism stereo attachment. The 
stereo camera provides a pair of stereo transparencies in a known manner. 
The method of the invention comprises the step of copying one of the first 
and second transparencies provided by the stereo camera to prepare a third 
transparency. This is accomplished by any suitable known means. 
The next step of the method of the invention is to optically superimpose 
the first transparency provided by the stereo camera and the third 
transparency on each other to provide a first combination of light. A line 
screen negative is prepared by any suitable means such as, for example, 
photographic means, having a plurality of black lines of equal thickness 
in parallel relation equidistantly spaced from each other by clear lines 
equal in thickness to the black lines. 
In the next step of the method of the invention, photosensitive material is 
exposed to the first combination of light via the line screen negative to 
provide a first exposure. 
The second transparency provided by the stereo camera and the third 
transparency are then optically superimposed on each other to provide a 
second combination of light. 
In the next step of the method of the invention, the line screen negative 
is shifted in position by the thickness of a black line thereof on the 
first exposure. 
The photosensitive material is then re-exposed to the second combination of 
light via the shifted line screen negative to expose the lines of the 
first exposure covered by the black lines of the negative in providing the 
first exposure to provide a complete exposure. 
The complete exposure is printed as a single print. 
In the last step of the invention, the print is lenticulated, whereby it 
appears to be three-dimensional to a human eye. The print is lenticulated 
via the same number of lines per unit length as the lines per unit length 
of the line screen negative. 
The steps of the method of the invention for making a print of an object 
are accomplished by the apparatus of the FIGS., as hereinafter described. 
The apparatus of the invention makes a print of an object which is first 
photographed by a stereo camera of any suitable type to provide first and 
second stereo transparencies 1 and 2 of the object (FIG. 1). 
A third transparency 3 (FIG. 1) is then prepared as a copy of either of the 
first and second transparencies 1 and 2 by any suitable known photographic 
means. 
An optical device 4 first superimposes the first transparency 1 provided by 
the stereo camera and the third transparency 3 on each other to provide a 
first combination of light. 
A line screen negative 5 (FIGS. 1 to 5) has a plurality of black lines 6, 
7, 8, 9, and so on (FIG. 5), of equal thickness in parallel relation 
equidistantly spaced from each other by clear lines 10, 11, 12 and so on 
(FIG. 5), equal in thickness to the black lines. The line screen negative 
may be produced by any suitable means such as, for example, a photographic 
method. The line screen negative has a predetermined number of lines per 
unit length such as, for example, 44 lines per inch. 
The optical device 4 positions the first and third transparencies 1 and 3 
substantially perpendicularly to each other. As shown in FIG. 1, the first 
transparency 1 is supported over an opening 13 and the third transparency 
3 is supported in a substantially vertical transparency holder 14 of any 
suitable known type. The first transparency 1 is illuminated by light from 
a first light source 15 of the optical device 4 via a suitable condenser 
lens 16 which provides even distribution of light from said first light 
source and the third transparency 3 is illuminated by light from a second 
light source 17 via a suitable condenser lens 18 (FIG. 1). A filter drawer 
19 is interposed between the condenser lens 16 and the transparency 1 or 2 
(FIG. 1). If needed, color correction filters may be placed in the drawer 
19 to correct the color balance of the print. Such correction filters may 
be magenta, cyan or yellow. 
In accordance with the invention, a viewing device 20 (FIG. 1) is provided 
for viewing the first and third transparencies 1 and 3 to permit selective 
positioning thereof to insure exact superimposition of said 
transparencies. The viewing device 20 comprises a substantially tube-like 
viewing member extending substantially perpendicularly from the optical 
device and having spaced opposite first and second ends 21 and 22, as 
shown in FIG. 1. The viewing member is open at its first and second ends 
21 and 22. A viewing lens 23 is mounted in the viewing member at the first 
end 21 thereof (FIG. 1). An adjustable polaroid filter 24 is mounted in 
the viewing member at the first end thereof. The polaroid filter 24 is 
rotatably mounted. It functions in conjunction with the polaroid filter 43 
to regulate the light reaching the eye from the original transparency 1 or 
2, which has a higher wattage lamp 15 behind it than the lamp 17 behind 
the third or duplicate transparency 3. The filter 24 is rotated until both 
the original and duplicate transparencies 1 or 2 have approximately the 
same density and make superimposition easier. The filters 24 and 45 are 
used solely for this superimposing function. The filter 45 is hereinafter 
described. The second end 22 of the viewing member is affixed to the 
optical device 4. 
A positioning device 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) first exposes photosensitive 
material 26 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of any suitable known type such as, for 
example, photographic film, to the first combination of light via the line 
screen negative 5 to provide a first exposure. The positioning device 25 
is then utilized to shift the line screen negative 5 in position by the 
thickness of a black line 6, 7, 8, 9, and so on, thereof on the first 
exposure. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the positioning device 25 comprises a clamping 
arrangement for holding the photosensitive material 26 in a fixed position 
and for maintaining the line screen negative 5 in juxtaposition with said 
photosensitive material in a manner whereby said line screen negative may 
be moved an amount equal to the thickness of one of its black lines. This 
is accomplished by mounting the line screen negative 5 in a side clamp 
comprising a pair of clamping members 27 and 28. The clamping members 27 
and 28 are slidably mounted in guide members 29 and 30, respectively, for 
movement in directions of arrows 31 and 32 of FIG. 2, perpendicular to the 
extension of the lines of the line screen negative 5. 
The line screen negative 5 is abutted at one edge by a control member 33. 
The control member 33 is movable a distance d (FIG. 5) which is equal to 
the thickness of a black line of the line screen negative 5 in the 
direction of the arrow 31 of FIG. 2 under the control of a cam device 34. 
Thus, when the cam device 34 is turned so that its extending portion 35 
abuts its housing component 36, the control member 33 is moved a distance 
d in the direction of the arrow 31, thereby moving the line screen 
negative 5 such distance. 
The first transparency 1 is then removed from the optical device 4 and is 
replaced by the second transparency 2. The optical device 4 is then 
utilized to superimpose the second transparency 2 and the third 
transparency 3 on each other to provide a second combination of light. 
The photosensitive material or film 26 is re-exposed to the second 
combination of light by the positioning device via the shifted line screen 
negative 5 to expose the lines of the first exposure covered by the black 
lines of the negative in providing the first exposure to provide a 
complete exposure. In other words, when the first exposure is produced, 
the black lines of the line screen negative 5 obstruct the light of the 
first combination of light and thus leave clear lines in their stead. 
Thus, when the line screen negative 5 is shifted by the distance d, the 
clear spaces of the first exposure are exposed to the second combination 
of light and resultant complete exposure is thus a combination of the 
first exposure on a plurality of spaced parallel lines and the second 
exposure on the alternate spaced parallel lines. 
A viewing lens device 37 (FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8) comprises a platform 38 
slidably mounted in the optical device 4 (FIGS. 1, 7 and 8). The viewing 
lens device 37 comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, a substantially cubic frame 
having a first pair of spaced parallel open sides 39 and 40 in planes 
substantially perpendicular to the platform 38. 
A second pair of spaced parallel closed sides 41 and 42 are substantially 
perpendicular to the first pair of sides 39 and 40 and join said first 
pair of sides, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. A third pair of spaced parallel 
sides include a top 43 and a bottom 44 juxtaposed with the platform 38, 
and are substantially perpendicular to the first and second pairs of sides 
and joining said sides (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8). A polaroid filter 45 is mounted 
in the top 43 (FIGS. 6 and 7) for viewing the first transparency 1 and 
then the second transparency 2 (FIG. 1). 
A transparent mirror 46 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) extends at substantially 
45.degree. with the platform 38 between the juncture of the bottom 44 and 
the side 39 of the first pair of sides closest to the viewing lens 23 and 
the juncture of the top 43 and the other side 40 of said first pair of 
sides. The third transparency 3 is provided at the side 40 (FIGS. 6 and 
7). A hole 47 is formed through the platform 38 (FIGS. 7 and 8) to permit 
exposure of the transparencies after viewing thereof. The hole 47 is 
spaced from the frame. 
The optical device 4 includes a lens 48 (FIG. 1) for directing light 
passing through the first and second transparencies 1 and 2 onto the 
photosensitive material 26. 
The complete exposure is printed as a single print 49 (FIGS. 10 and 11) by 
any suitable known method or means such as, for example, by immersion in a 
suitable developer bath 50 and then suitable drying in a drier 51, as 
shown in FIG. 12. 
The single print 49 is lenticulated by a lenticular sheet 52 (FIGS. 9, 10 
and 11) which is positioned on said print and makes said print appear to 
be three-dimensional to a human eye. The lenticular sheet 52 may comprise 
any suitable known sheet having the same configuration as the line screen 
negative 5 and has the same number of lines per unit length formed therein 
as does the line screen negative. The lenticular sheet 52 is commercially 
available as a substantially rigid sheet of transparent plastic having a 
plurality of spaced parallel lines formed therein by corrugations 53 
formed in one surface of said sheet (FIG. 10). 
The viewing device 20 of the invention is used to observe two 
transparencies such as, the first and third transparencies 1 and 3, for 
example, in superimposed relation to each other and permits the user to 
adjust either of the transparencies in position, while viewing same, to 
insure exact superimposition of said transparencies. 
A transparent member 54 of any suitable type such as, for example, glass or 
plastic, is juxtaposed with the line screen negative 5, as shown in FIG. 
3, to keep said negative flat. 
When a person looks at the print 49 via the lenticular sheet 52, he or she 
sees a clear, distinct and beautifully natural three-dimensional picture. 
The viewing lens device 37 is moved by the user in adjusting the 
transparencies 1 and 2 and 3 for superimposition. The viewing lens device 
37 is moved into the line of sight of the viewing lens 23 (FIG. 1) in 
order to provide such superimposition. After the viewing lens device has 
been used to assist in superimposing the transparencies, the user shifts, 
slides or moves it so that the hole 47 through the platform 38 is 
positioned in the beam of light through the opening 13. This permits 
exposures to be made without obstruction by any of the components of the 
viewing lens device 37. 
The optical device or enlarger 4 is mounted on an adjustable stand from a 
base on which the line screen negative 5 and the photosensitive material 
26 rest. Thus, the distance between the optical device 4 and the line 
screen negative 5 and photosensitive material 26 is proportionately 
greater than that indicated in FIG. 1. 
While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and 
in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious 
modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing 
from the spirit and scope of the invention.