Apparatus for making photographic pictures

An apparatus for making photographic pictures is disclosed comprising a housing provided with an objective; a magazine or cassette containing a film feed mechanism; and a device for positioning at least one mask in the light rays in the interior of the apparatus between the objective and the film and adjacent to the film plane. The apparatus is useful to effect masking operations during the normal photographic operations of imaging.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is concerned with the making of photographic pictures like 
records, separations and all other images on a film. 
More particularly, the invention is related to an apparatus for making 
photographic pictures allowing a masking during the imaging process. 
In photographic art in general, and in the polygraphic industry in 
particular, the so-called masking operation is an important step or 
technique in order to obtain high quality copies or prints from originals. 
The masking operations are generally carried out in the laboratory, and 
their complexity considerably raises the price of photographic work where 
such masking is necessary. The masking operation comprises placing a mask 
realized beforehand, on a film to be sensibilized. The man skilled in the 
art perfectly knows these operations including color corrections on color 
separations realized for printing purposes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A first object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for making 
photographic pictures allowing the performing of masking operations. 
A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the 
depicted kind which directly allows to obtain an original with masking, 
during the taking of the picture, and not after having already taken the 
picture as it has been the case until now. 
Thus, considerable time and work could be saved if a photographic apparatus 
would allow the masking during the photographic imaging operation and not 
only afterwards. 
The apparatus of this invention fullfills the above objects. It comprises a 
device arranged to position at least one mask into the path of light rays 
in the interior of the apparatus between the objective and the film. Said 
mask positioning device preferably places the mask in the proximity of the 
film plane. 
In the following specification, the expression "photographic imaging 
apparatus" designates an apparatus like a camera which is arranged to make 
reproductions or prints from a real or photographed subject by the 
well-known photographic process, be it in color or not. 
The mask positioning device comprises fixing means allowing a precise 
alignment of the mask on the device, and is further provided with fixing 
and positioning means for a precise alignment relative to the apparatus. 
The mask positioning device can be provided with at least two alignment 
pins adapted to enter corresponding bores in the masks, and said pins are 
located on the contact surface of the mask. 
The mask positioning device can be provided with a housing, a shutter being 
mounted in front of the mask. The fixing and positioning means between 
that housing and the apparatus have supporting surfaces and/or grooves and 
alignment pins; the housing will be placed at the rear of the apparatus. 
The housing can be provided with a rear cover, situated behind the mask and 
arranged to be replaced by a film magazine or cassette comprising film 
transporting means, or by a sighting device. 
The fixing and positioning means between the mask positioning device and 
the apparatus can be fitted with a spindle around which this means can 
pivot, and a catch stopper. 
The apparatus may further be provided with a film transport mechanism or 
film feed device, which is arranged to retreat the film from its contact 
with the mask in order to have it make an advancing motion. The retreating 
motion of the film can be realized by a pivoting movement about a lateral 
axle of the film advancing mechanism or by a translation movement of the 
mechanism. 
The mask positioning device, when pivotably mounted on a rotation spindle, 
also comprises a back cover mounted on the same spindle, and the entire 
unit is provided in the interior in a film magazine or cassette comprising 
the film advance mechanism. The rotation spindle of the mask positioning 
device is then provided laterally on the opposite side of the pivoting 
axle of the film advance mechanism, and a control rod is provided to 
release the device cover and to bring the film in contact with the mask, 
and vice versa.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The photographic imaging apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is arranged and 
designed to produce photographic film images combined with a masking 
operation effected simultaneously with the imaging operation and not 
separatly and successively as it is the case in the prior art. This 
apparatus 1 comprises a housing 2, a removable magazine 3 and an 
intermediate housing for, removable also and placed between housing 2 and 
magazine 3. The intermediate housing 4 is provided with a device for the 
insertion and the exposure of the mask, see detailed description below. 
The housing 2 is of conventional construction and has a rear portion 5. On 
its lower surface, a threaded bore 6 for the fixing of the apparatus 1 on 
a stand or tripod (not shown) as well as a toothed rack 7 directed to the 
front are provided. The rack 7 allows displacement of an objective support 
8 by means of a knob 9. Support 8 bearing an objective 10 and provided 
with diaphragm and shutter in the conventional kind, is connected to the 
rear portion 5 by a bellows 11. The objective 10 can therefore be 
displaced when knob 9 is rotated in order to adjust the proper distance. 
The rack 7 has, on its free end, a stop abutment 12 so that the support 8 
cannot go out of the rack 7. 
The rear portion 5 is provided, at its lower part, with a protruding 
horizontal rail 13 defining a groove 14 wherein a corresponding rib 15 of 
the intermediate housing 4 can be inserted. This intermediate housing 4 is 
fixed at its upper portion by a hook or latch 16 to the rear portion 5. 
The intermediate housing 4 can therefore be removed from the rear portion 
5 of housing 2 when pressure is exerted onto the rear end of hook 16, then 
the two upper portions of the housings 2 and 4 are slightly moved apart, 
and housing 4 is finally taken out of the groove 14. The two pieces are 
put together in an analogous manner. The positioning of intermediate 
housing 4 against housing 2 is facilitated by two positioning pins 17 on 
the intermediate housing 4 which enter corresponding bores 18 of the rear 
portion 5 of the housing 2. The rear end of the intermediate housing 4 
(see also FIG. 4) is provided with a cover 19 pivotably journalled on an 
axle 20. This cover 19 is a U-shaped trilateral frame having at its 
interior surfaces, which form the U, a groove 21 (see FIG. 4) adapted to 
receive a simple closure 22 shown in FIG. 4 or the frame 22a of a sighting 
device 23 represented in FIG. 5 and shown in a sectional view, in FIG. 2, 
or the magazine 3 with a film as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
The magazine 3 can thus be introduced from below, as shown in FIG. 1, into 
the U-shaped frame 19 of the intermediate housing 4. The film 24 in the 
magazine 3 comes out of a supply reel 25, goes around an upper guide 
roller 26 and then to a film presser 27 biassed by a spring 28, around a 
lower guide roller 29, and is then wound upon a bobbin or reel 30. The 
roller 26 and 29, the film presser 27 and the spring 28 are mounted on an 
arm 31 having a bent-away lever arm 32 which is captured in a notch 33. 
This notch 33 is cut into one of the circular edges of the receiving 
bobbin 30. The arm 31 is mounted pivotably about an axle 35 and is biassed 
into notch 33 by a spring 36 inserted between the lever arm 32 and the 
interior surface of the wall 37 of the magazine 3. 
The transport of film 24 within the magazine 3 is operated in the following 
way. When the take-up bobbin 30 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the 
lever arm 32 leaves the notch 33 and slides on the circular edge 34 of 
bobbin 30 during one complete rotation of said bobbin. The arm 31 has 
pivoted about its axle 35 when the tip of the lever arm 32 has left the 
notch 33, so that the film transport during the 360.degree. rotation of 
the receiving bobbin is effected with arm 31, guide rollers 26 and 29 and 
film presser 27 in a retreated position relative to the film contacting 
surfaces of the magazine. In this way, any friction of the film on its 
contact surfaces defined by the rear wall of intermediate housing 4 or by 
a mask, is positively avoided. 
When the bobbin 30 has made a complete rotation, notch 33 comes in facing 
relationship with the tip of the lever arm 32, and spring 36 pushes the 
lever arm upwardly so that said tip enters notch 3 and arm 31 is 
swivelled, pressing the film 24 against its contact surfaces of the 
intermediate housing 4 or a mask. 
In the variant of the magazine 3, shown in FIG. 3, the film advancing and 
transporting mechanism comprises the supply reel 25, the receiving bobbin 
30, the guide rollers 26 and 29, and the film presser 27 with its spring 
28. The film presser and the guide rollers are mounted on a T-shaped arm 
38; its T shaft 38a bearing at its end a spring 39. The other end of 
spring 39 rests against the inner wall of the housing wall 37. The T shaft 
38a of arm 38 has a downwardly directed prolongation 40 engaging a cam 41 
on bobbin 30. A crank handle 42 is provided to rotate the receiving bobbin 
30 which, at the beginning of a rotation of 360.degree., pushes with its 
cam 41 the prolongation 40 and thus the arm 38 to the rear, against the 
action of spring 39. The film presser 27 and the two guide rollers 26 and 
29 which bear the film 24 are retracted, and the advance of film 24 is 
effected while it is out of contact with its contact surfaces. 
The man skilled in the art will understand that, in the apparatus variant 
shown in FIG. 3, the film transportation can only be started after the 
retreat of the film from its contact surfaces, parallel to its original or 
exposure plane, whereas in the embodiment of FIG. 1 the film 
transportation takes place after the film retreat by pivoting about an 
axle 35 arranged laterally relative to the film plane. 
As it has already been mentioned, the separation of the film (during its 
advance) from its contact surfaces (generally the surface of a mask as 
explained below) permits avoidance of any friction of the film surface on 
the sensitive mask surface. The intermediate housing 4, shown in FIG. 3, 
is identical to that of FIGS. 1 and 2. The magazine 3 is thus connected to 
the apparatus 1 by insertion, from below, into the grooves 21 of the cover 
19, and at the end of the course, a spring pawl 43 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) 
ascertains the holding of the magazine. 
Instead of the magazine 3, the cover 19 may receive a simple closure plate 
22 (FIG. 4) having a central contact portion 45 freely mounted on the 
interior of the closure plate 22 via a spring (not shown). The portion 45 
of the plate 22 serves as a film presser when a film mask is prepared; 
this will be explained later. 
The sighting device 23 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) has lateral ribs 46 which allow 
the introduction of this device 23 into the grooves 21 of the cover 19. 
The sighting device 23 further comprises a diffusing screen 47 forwardly 
biassed by a spring 48, see FIG. 2, so that it may be pushed against the 
film contact surfaces of the intermediate housing 4. The device 23 also 
comprises an ocular 49 connected to the frame 22 by a casing 50. 
The intermediate housing shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 has contact 
surfaces 51 which form a frame on which a mask 52 is normally applied. The 
supporting frame, formed by surfaces 51, has on its upper side two 
positioning pins 53 that enter corresponding bores 54 in the mask 52. 
Behind the mask 52, there are two shutter covers 55 and 56 the pivoting 
axles 57, 58 of which are arranged laterally in the housing 4 (see also 
FIGS. 6 and 7). Opening fingers 59 and 60 are arranged on the upper, 
enlarged portion 61, 62 of the covers 55, 56 in a position slightly offset 
to axles 57 and 58 against the interior of the housing. The fingers 59 and 
60 traverse meniscal-shaped slots 63 and 64 of an upper plate 65 which 
bears the upper end of the axles 57 and 58 as well as an opening device 
comprising a T-shaped piece 66 (see FIG. 6) pivotably journalled at 67, 
the T-shaft being attached by a shutter pin 68. One of the opposing T 
branches is connected to the opening finger 59 whereas the other one is 
connected by a control rod 69 to the other opening finger 60. Finger 59 is 
further connected to the rod 69 by a spring 70. When the shutter pin 68 is 
pushed down, T-shaped piece 66 pivots about its axle 67 in clockwise 
direction and further moves fingers 59 and 60 which then travel within 
meniscular slots 63 and 64. In this way, the covers 55 and 56 are opened 
like window blinds. In FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that the shutter pin 
68 of the intermediate housing 4 is automatically pushed down by the 
adjacent surface of the rear portion 5 when the intermediate housing 4 is 
pressed home against housing 2. Covers 55 and 56 thus automatically open 
when intermediate housing 4 is applied against the rear portion 5 of 
housing 2, and they automatically close due to the tension of spring 70 
(see FIG. 6) when the intermediate housing 4 is separated from housing 2. 
The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 operates as follows: 
It will first be assumed that a real subject should be photographed, e.g. a 
color diapositive should be made with a masking effect to correct colors. 
To do this, a color correction film mask will be used which will be 
exposed and placed into the intermediate housing before mounting on a 
tripod (not shown) which will be screwed in from below into the threaded 
bore 6 of the housing 2. The intermediate housing 4 is then fixed to the 
rear portion 5 of housing 2 after having introduced the sighting device 23 
into the intermediate housing. Then the shutter 10 of objective 10 is 
opened, and the image framing is effected followed by the usual distance 
and luminosity adjustments of the image formed on the diffusing plate 47 
of the sighting device 23. After the end of all adjustments, the apparatus 
must not be displaced or otherwise disturbed. The hook 16 is now operated, 
and the intermediate housing 4 bearing the sighting device 23 is separated 
from housing 2 which remains on the tripod. In a dark chamber, the cover 
19 is opened, the sighting device 23 is removed from the intermediate 
housing 4 and a film 52, (e.g. a simple black-and-white film) is placed on 
the positioning pins 53 since only one color correction is being made. 
Film 52 is applied against the surfaces 51, and plate 22 (see FIG. 4) is 
slid into the grooves 21 of cover 19 until the closure of spring pawl 43; 
the cover 19 is closed over the film 52. One can now leave the dark 
chamber since intermediate housing 4 is closed. The intermediate housing 4 
is now introduced against rear portion 5 of housing 2. As already been 
mentioned, the covers 55 and 56 which protect the film 52 from daylight 
automatically open by the action of the shutter pin 68 when the 
intermediate housing 4 is placed against the rear portion 5 of housing 2. 
The film 52 is now ready for exposure, and since it is a color correction 
film, the appropriate filter should be placed before the objective in 
order to obtain the desired color correction. The color correction filters 
and the film used for masking operations will not be described in detail 
since these techniques and the materials necessary for their executive are 
perfectly well known to the man skilled in the art. 
When the appropriate filter (not shown) has been placed in front of the 
objective 10, a photograph can be taken to sensibilize the film 52 which 
acts as a film mask. Once the photograph is taken, the filter (not shown) 
before the objective 10 is removed, and the intermediate housing 4 is 
separated from the rear portion 5 of housing 2, bearing in mind the 
caution not to displace or disturb the housing 2 on its tripod. 
When the intermediate housing 4 is separated from housing 2 and their 
adjacent surfaces are moved apart, spring 70 (see FIG. 6) immediately 
closes the covers 55 and 56, and the film mask 52 now sensibilized is 
protected from environmental light. In the dark room, cover 19 of the 
intermediate housing 4 is opened, film 52 is removed, developed, and 
fixed. It is dried and replaced on the positioning pins 53. The plate 22 
is drawn from its cover frame 19, and magazine 3 is introduced in the 
grooves 21 (see FIGS. 1 or 3). Cover 19 over the magazine 3 is closed, and 
the plane of the film 24 which is in the magazine 3 comes now in surface 
contact with the film mask 52. Now, the unit formed of the intermediate 
housing 4 and the magazine 3 is placed against the rear portion 5 of 
housing 2 which is still on the tripod (not shown) in its adjusted 
position. When this placing is effected, the covers 55 and 56 of the 
intermediate housing 4 opens automatically once more, and a photograph can 
be taken on the film 24 whereby the light rays coming from the subject 
traverse first the film mask 52 whereon film 24 is in superficial 
contacting relationship. In this way, an image is formed which has 
automatically been corrected in colors by masking. Now, it is possible to 
develop the photograph, or more photographs can be taken, be it for 
confirmation or be it for the production of other images, the placement of 
other filters before the objective 10 being of course possible. 
It should be noted that all operations described until now will be effected 
in practice much more rapidly than the description could proceed. 
It should further be noted that the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 can be 
used much more universally as described. The description of a special use 
comprising the photographic imaging of a color image together with a 
correction mask has been selected due to its relative simplicity and to 
the fact that it permits a most simple and clear description of the 
operation. Those skilled in the art know that there exist other masks than 
black and white ones used for color corrections. There are color 
retracting masks as well as a plurality of masks for special effects, 
which can be prepared inside or outside the camera. Such special masks are 
e.g. transparent ones bearing a text to be superimposed on a photograph. 
It should be clear that all such masks can be used in the camera of the 
invention. On the other hand, the inventor has found that he could 
superimpose a plurality of masks within the intermediate housing 4. It is 
therefore possible to place on the positioning pins 53, e.g. one color 
correction mask, then a transparent text bearing mask, etc. All possible 
mask combinations will be possible. 
The apparatus of the invention is particularly useful to make series of 
photographs combined with masking operations. The apparatus shown in FIGS. 
1 to 7 can be used to prepare directly color separations from a particular 
real subject, and the separations will be obtained after the realisation 
of the film mask when appropriate filters (not shown) are placed in front 
of the objective 10 of the apparatus. Another use of the apparatus shown 
in FIGS. 1 to 7 is the preparation and realisation of color catalogs 
representing a plurality of objects which can now directly be photographed 
in separations together with masking operations and/or addition of 
transparent patterns realized outside the camera. 
In addition to the numerous uses briefly mentioned above, the apparatus of 
the invention is capable of realizing photographs having outstanding 
quality. In fact, the sighting with the device 23 is effected in the film 
plane, i.e. exactly between the mask and the film. Even if a plurality of 
masks is superimposed in the intermediate housing 4, the adjustments can 
always be made in the film plane, i.e. between the last mask and the film 
24 unwound in magazine 3. On the other hand, the film mask 52 and the film 
24 in magazine 3, be it that of FIG. 1 or of FIG. 3, can be placed with 
their gelatine layers facing each other whereby the two imaging planes are 
nearly identical. In order to warrant a perfect image quality, the 
inventor has designed the film 24 transporting means in such a manner that 
any friction between the film mask or masks and the film 24 is positively 
avoided. The film transporting devices (see FIGS. 1 and 3) are therefore 
such that the film 24 is retreated from the mask every time it is 
advanced. When the advance has been made, the film is automatically 
replaced against the mask or masks. It should be noted that the magazine 3 
can at any moment be replaced by the sighting device for a checking or an 
adjustment. 
The man skilled in the art will understand that, owing to the presence of 
the positioning pins 53, the contact surfaces 51 and the film presser 27, 
the mask will always be positioned and placed relatively to the image. 
Furthermore, owing to the presence of the groove 14 of rear portion 5, 
corresponding to the rib of the intermediate housing 4, and to the 
positioning pins 17 fitting into the bores 18 of the rear portion 5, the 
position of intermediate housing 4 relative to the housing 2 will always 
be invariable. This exact positioning of the mask relative to intermediate 
housing 4 and of the latter to housing 2 allows an excellent image 
quality. This fact is particularly important since it is indispensable 
that the mask just realized must precisely be replaced into the ray bundle 
so that further photographs can be taken. 
Those skilled in the art will further understand that the disclosed 
apparatus can be supported by an optical bench in order to realize images 
from transparent originals projected through the objective 10 by a 
condenser (not shown). To resume, the described apparatus allows the 
realisation of images with extreme precision using one or more masks of 
different thickness since the adjustment is always made in the film plane. 
Furthermore, the film advancing means always retreat the film from the 
mask during film transportation so that any film damage or defect is 
avoided. The parts of the apparatus can precisely be assembled so that, 
when housing 2 is adjusted to the subject, all intermediate operations can 
be made without need for a readjustment; all adjustments can be rechecked 
at any moment. The apparatus can also be used for making photographs, 
separations etc. on an optical bench to reproduce transparent originals, 
making special effects like fading in of texts or other information. The 
major advantage is however the fact that film masks can be made during the 
photographing of a subject whereas the apparatus of the prior art required 
a masking always in a dark room after imaging and on the base of developed 
original films. 
The embodiment just described can of course be modified without departing 
from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the mask can be 
introduced at another location than adjacent to the film plane. The 
intermediate housing 4 could therefore be placed at any location between 
the objective 10 and the film plane. However, it should be noted that the 
image quality increases when the mask is approaching the film plane. The 
intermediate housing 4 could be introduced in a chamber of the housing 2 
instead of being affixed against the housing 2, and the magazine 3 could 
be affixed to the housing 2. In such a case, positioning means for the 
intermediate housing 4 should be provided on the housing 2 so that the 
former could be removed and replaced in said chamber to occupy always the 
identical position. 
In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the apparatus 71 comprises 
a front housing 72 similar to housing 2 of the first embodiment, and a 
magazine 73 containing the film transporting device 74 as well as the mask 
positioning device 75. The housing 72 comprises a rear portion 5 with its 
lower threaded bore 6 to be fixed on a tripod (not shown), and a toothed 
rack 7 whereupon the objective support 8 is displaced by the action of a 
knob 9. The support 8 bears an objective 10 with its diaphragm and 
shutter, and it is connected to the rear portion 5 by a bellows 11. The 
objective 10 can be displaced forward and backward to effect distance 
adjustments. The rack 7 has at its foremost end a stop abutment 12 so that 
the objective support 8 cannot run out of the rack 7. The rear portion 5 
comprises at its lower portion a groove 14 wherein a corresponding rib 15 
of the magazine 73 can be inserted which is positioned relative to the 
rear portion 5 by a second rib 76 entering a groove 77 at the upper 
portion of piece 5. The magazine 73 is held against rear portion 5 by a 
hook or latch 78. The rear portion 5 further comprises a protruding device 
75. 
This mask positioning device 75 comprises a frame 80 having in its interior 
two shutter wings 81, 82 which are similar to the covers 55, 56 of the 
intermediate housing 4 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7. The opening and 
closing of wings 81, 82 is operated by shutter rod (not shown) in the same 
way as in the foregoing embodiment. The frame 80 is pivotably journalled 
about an axle 83, and its rear part is closed by a cover 84 comprising at 
its center a film presser 85 biassed by a spring 86. The frame 80 has 
supporting or contacting surfaces 87 on which a mask 88, introduced over 
two positioning pins 89, can be placed. 
On the other side of the magazine 73, opposed to axle 83, the film 
transporting mechanism can be pivoted about the pivoting axle 90. This 
transporting mechanism comprises a frame 91 bearing a supply reel 92, a 
guide roller 93, a film presser 94 mounted on the frame 91 via a spring 
95, a second guide roller 96, and a take-up reel 97, the rotation axis of 
which coincides with the pivoting axis of the device 74. The film 98 is 
thus unwound from the supply reel 92, goes around the guide roller 93 to 
the film presser 94, around the guide roller 96, and is wound up on the 
take-up reel 97. The film transporting control device is not shown in 
FIGS. 8 to 10. This device may be any conventional means moved by a handle 
or a motor. The pivoting of the film transporting device 74 is controlled 
by a rod 99 fixed, at one side, at 100 to the frame 91 and, on the other 
hand, to a control wheel 102. The rod comprises a retaining pin 103 
arranged to hold in place the cover 84 of the mask positioning device 75, 
said cover being also biassed by the action of a spring 104 fixed to the 
casing 105 of the housing by a hook 106. 
The casing 105 of the magazine 73 comprises a portion 107 pivotably 
journalled about an axle 108 so that the film transporting device 74 will 
be accessible. The magazine 73 further comprises in its interior a safety 
pin 109 which holds in place the mask positioning device 75 when the 
magazine 73 is separated from the rear portion 5 of the housing 72. 
The operation of this second embodiment will easily be understood; 
reference is made to FIGS. 9 to 10. 
First, the housing 72 of the apparatus is directed to a subject to be 
imaged with simultaneous masking. The magazine 73 is removed from the rear 
portion 5 of housing 72, which remains at its place, and magazine 73 is 
transported to a dark room where safety pin 109 is opened to pivot frame 
80 upwardly. The mask positioning device 75 and the film transporting 
device 74 are then in the positions shown in FIG. 9. Now, the mask 88 is 
introduced on the positioning pins 89, and frame 80 is caused to pivot 
downwardly against the cover 84; when it is in contact therewith, the 
safety pin 109 is correctly replaced. The mask positioning device 15 is 
now in the position shown in FIG. 8. The wings 81 and 82 are closed, and 
the magazine 73 can be exposed to daylight and replaced against the rear 
portion 5 of housing 72. As already explained with the first embodiment, 
wings 81 and 82 automatically open when the magazine is placed. Now, the 
mask is sensibilized. The magazine 73 is again removed from the rear 
portion 5, goes to the dark room, the mask is developed, and the mask is 
replaced in the already described manner. Then the magazine 73 is replaced 
against the rear portion 5 in the already described way, and the wheel 102 
is rotated half a turn to arrive in the position shown in FIG. 10. When 
the wheel passes from its position shown in FIG. 9 into that represented 
in FIG. 10, retaining pin 103 liberates the cover 84 which under the 
action of spring 104, is raised and pivots upwardly into the position 
shown in FIG. 10. Simultaneously, rod 99 is drawn upwardly too and brings 
the film transport device 74, swivelling about axis 90 (FIG. 8) in contact 
with the mask positioning device 55 until film 98 is pressed against mask 
88 by the film presser 85. Now, one or more photographs can be made 
through the mask 88, it being understood that between two successive 
images, the device 74 is pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 9 to 
effect the film advance free from solid contact and thus to avoid any 
friction between the mask 88 and the advancing film 98. The magazine 73 is 
finally removed for its transfer to the dark room, and casing portion 107 
of the housing 105 is lowered in order to give access to the film for its 
development. 
The same way as the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, the second one just 
described can serve a plurality of purposes using all types of known 
masks. These masks may have any thickness whatsoever, and in general, 
several masks can be superimposed. In the second embodiment, the sighting 
device (not shown) is an independent one placed on the housing 72. It 
should be clear that the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10 can also be modified 
within the scope and spirit of this invention. For example, the housing 72 
and the magazine 73 can be made of one sole piece or unit should one 
desire to simplify the apparatus. In this case, an upper opening should be 
provided in the housing 72 in order to make the mask positioning device 
accessible. It is further possible to vary the magazine 73 in providing it 
with a chamber destined for receiving the mask positioning device 75. 
The originality of the apparatus of the invention and its embodiments and 
variants are not based upon the modifications discussed above but on the 
fact that it allows to execute the masking operations during the imaging 
of originals, and these masking operations may be as complex as those 
realized until now in special laboratories.