Does somebody know how to create a black(or white) diffused border of the print image? I mean the border that is getting darker (or lighter) towards the edge of the print. Another wanted hint: how to create artificial shadows on the print (how to darken a part of the print image without sharp edged black areas)?

-- Daniel Banas (daniel.banas@swh.sk), May 07, 1998

Answers

Borders other than plain black or white are probably best done by photographing artwork, and using that negative to over-print the photo paper. Protect the central part of the photo with black card on the photo paper, or by opaque-painting the central part of your border-negative.

Part 2 of your question sounds as if you are referring to "burning", ie selectively giving more light to the photo paper, possibly by using a piece of card with a hole cut in it between the enlarger lens and photo paper. You could also do this after removing the negative from the enlarger. The sharpness of the edge depends on the distance between the card and the photo paper, and on the lens aperture.

-- Alan Gibson (gibson.al@mail.dec.com), May 08, 1998.