LANTERN MASKS.
These can be purchased at any dealer's in boxes costing about a shilling, and con taining an assortment of different shapes and sizes (see Fig. 451). It must be ad mitted that the choice is very often far too limited for artistic work. Some workers may therefore prefer to cut their own, using for the purpose black needle paper obtainable from any large stationer's. It will, however, be better to use one of the lengths known as binding strips. It can be procured cut into small pieces, each equal to one side of the slide, or in long strips covering the whole. It is a matter of fancy which is used. Moisten the strip well, and placing one end on the extreme corner of one side, lay clown all round, leaving an equal margin on each side. The lantern slide clamp (Fig. 452) grips the glasses firmly by a turn of the screw. The clamp may be fixed against a support so that the glasses rest on the table, or it may be used as shown. The latter is
perhaps best. The binding being placed in position along one side, snip the margin on either side opposite the corner, stock sizes than to risk a jagged border. They will not be very difficult to salt by anyone familiar with the ordinary circular or oval trimmer. A makeshift cutter may be made by attaching a length of watch spring to a block of hard wood. The paper is then stamped out on a sheet of lead. A variety of shapes may be made up by using strips of the ordinary binding. Having chosen one which is suitable, and which leaves visible that portion of the picture which is required and no more, lay it in position on the plate, and on this place a cover glass which has been care fully cleaned. These cover glasses may be purchased, or may be ent by the worker, but the former is the better plan. Old negative glass is unsuitable, as it is too thick.