Precision Pin-Regsitration Carrier System. Pictured here is the "complete system" which includes the Contrast Masking Kit.

The new Precision Pin-Registration Carrier System, designed by an engineer and two photographers, works accurately and efficiently with any and all masking techniques including Unsharp Masking, Highlight Masks, Contrast Reduction Masks and Dodge/Burn Masks as well as all others detailed in the Contrast Masking Kit. It's also the ideal tool for making precise multiple-exposures with separation negatives, special contrast masks, Shadow Contrast Increase Masks, Fog Masks and special effects requiring double-printing. It's also the perfect system for Inkjet Dodge Masks!

The Precision pin-registration glass negative carriers are individually hand-crafted and pre-adjusted to work perfectly with the accompanying Precision holder frame. Made of sturdy, black-anodized hard aluminum, the Precision holder frame is 7/16 inch thick and will easily fit nearly all popular 4x5 enlargers as well as some smaller and bigger enlargers (see below). The Precision Carrier System is designed for speed, ease of use and amazing repeatable accuracy, even on extreme print enlargement sizes. The standard system includes holder frame, pin-registration glass carrier, matching registration punch, black paper base for mask-making and black foam pad (to facilitate mask-making). No other equipment is needed for mask-making and printing with or without masks. Also includes complete instructions for use and calibration (the system comes perfectly calibrated when it is shipped) and a 100% size template to use as a guide for attaching pin-registered leader strips. Complete system includes Contrast Masking Kit also. For more information and to view examples of some remarkable masking techniques, please visit Maskingkits.com.

Anti-Newton Ring Glass Carriers are now available as an upgrade option. Many modern thin emulsion films, such as Kodak T-Max, are sometimes prone to Newton ring problems when using clear glass carriers. Some "sandwich" masking techniques, such as Highlight Masks, Contrast Reduction Masks and Unsharp Masks can also increase the chance of Newton rings appearing in skies and other smooth areas of the print. These new Anti-Newton Ring carriers are made with special high quality single-side acid etched glass (both top piece and bottom piece), reducing or eliminating the possibility of Newton Rings. These upgraded carriers will yield beatiful, finely detailed crisp images without impairing the sharpness and smoothness of the image in any way, regardless of the degree of enlargement. Absolutely NO texture whatsoever will show on the print, regardless of the degree of enlargement. Furthermore, they can be used for making masks as well *. These upgraded carriers are available in both standard and complete systems (see table below) for an additional cost of $60. If you prefer, you can choose clear glass for the bottom glass and Anti-Newton glass for the top glass, at the same cost as the complete Anti-Newton version. Simply order the Anti-Newton version and add a comment to request clear bottom glass.

* Anti-Newton Ring carriers are perfect for use in all cold-light or diffusion light enlargers but should not be used in a condenser enlarging system. For mask making with Anti-Newton Ring Carriers, a sheet of Duratrans (textureless) diffusion material must be used under the top sheet of glass in the carrier. All Anti-Newton Ring Carriers come with a punched 5" x 5" sheet of Duratrans diffusion material specifically made for this purpose as well as an instruction sheet explaining how to use these carriers for making masks. For condenser light heads, we recommend using the clear glass carrier version instead of the Anti-Newton Ring version

View picture of the Precision Carrier System

* The extra set of registration pins that normally come with the Contrast Masking Kit are not included in the Contrast Masking Kit that is bundled with the Complete system, since registration pins are already attached to the glass carrier. All other Contrast Masking Kit items are identical to purchasing the Contrast Masking Kit separately.

** Glass carriers and holders are offered separately here only for use as replacement parts. Except for such use, we do not recommend purchasing them separately. All Anti-Newton Ring versions come with a punched sheet of Duratrans diffusion material designed for making masks with this special carrier. Please note that each "holder" unit can have only one carrier calibrated to it at a time. You cannot switch freely from carrier to carrier without recalibrating the holder for that specific carrier.

Photographers using the excellent but very expensive Condit registration systems (no longer available) will find this system is easier and faster to use, particularly when replacing negatives or masks in the glass carrier - even in total darkness! This system is far more efficient at a price far less. Also, the former Condit systems cropped into the edge of a full 4x5 negative making it impossible to print any of the image at the edge of the film.

A major benefit to the Precision system is that your original negatives are never punched (the former Condit system required punching your original negatives). Only a leader strip of scrap film, taped to the extreme edge of your negative, is punched. This actually facilitates handling of your original negatives and allows all masks to be stored separately from (not taped to) your original negatives.

The Precision Carrier System is currently available for 4x5 and smaller film formats only. Although designed expressly for 4x5 enlargers, they may also fit many smaller enlargers. Please note that film formats smaller than 4x5 are easily accommodated by this system. Complete and standard systems come with full instructions for use and adjustment as well as a solid foam base to facilitate mask-making. Photographers who purchase the complete Precision Carrier System can still make excellent use of the registration pins included with the Contrast Masking Kit. The pins can be used for all paper-plane masking techniques, or they can be taped to a light table for use in other masking work, such as hand-made dodge/burn masks.

Upgraded versions of both Complete and Standard systems include a Precision Anti-Newton Ring Carrier for an additional cost of $60. This represents the ultimate in pin-registration printing with masks. If you prefer, you can choose clear glass for the bottom glass and Anti-Newton glass for the top glass, at the same cost as the complete Anti-Newton version. Simply order the Anti-Newton version and add a comment to request clear bottom glass.

The Precision Carrier System has been tested by photographers on the following enlargers, and found to be just as precise on each: Saunders 4x5 (all models), Omega 4x5 (all models), Beseler 4x5 (all models), Durst 4x5 and Zone VI 4x5. Photographers have also reported that the system works perfectly on Zone VI 5x7 enlargers as well.

Complete and standard systems come with full instructions for use and adjustment as well as a solid foam base and punched black paper to facilitate mask-making.