BullsEye Camera-Alignment Mirror

BullsEye Camera-Alignment Mirror

 

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       The BullsEye provides a quick way to avoid a keystoned image, when photographing flat artwork.

 

       The typical approach for squaring the camera with the art work is time consuming, taking measurements, using a carpenter’s square, T-square, etc.  Simply centering the object in the camera’s viewfinder does not guarantee a rectilinear image.  With the BullsEye, it is not necessary to know any dimensions or the angle of the painting to photograph it as a rectangle.  

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      The BullsEye is the shape of a hollow spool.  A mirror is attached at one end, facing inward.  A handle loosely holds the device at its center of gravity.  A strap attached to the wire handle, holds the BullsEye from above.  The pressure against the artwork is a small fraction of the weight of the BullsEye.  A felt backing on the mirror prevents damage to the painting.

Force = 3 oz. x (tan strap angle, from vertical)
Angle of cloth strap
1°
2°
4°
8°
10°
Force on painting
0.05 oz.
0.10 oz.
0.21 oz.
0.42 oz.
0.53 oz.

 

 

To photograph a hanging painting:

 

 

To photograph a propped-up painting:

 

Comments:

  • “This seems to be exactly what I need“, Christine Smith, Smithsonian Institution, Nov. 4, 2019
  • “In the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale toils a prolific inventor named Steve Hines.  A recent invention is the BullsEye, which provides a quick and simple way of aligning a copy camera to flat artwork.  The photographer places the Bulls Eye against a painting, looks through the camera’s viewfinder until he sees its reflection in the Bulls Eye mirror, and then knows he is facing the painting square and true.  Click!”,  Bob McKay, photo-industry consultant, June 15, 2004

 

For more information:

Photo Imaging News, Volume 21, No. 13, June 14, 2004

 

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Hines’ lab notebook #1, p. 58

 

     HinesLab is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology.  This is not a product being offered for sale to end users.  To discuss licensing, please contact Steve Hines at:

 

HinesLab

 

USA
email: Steve@HinesLab.com
ph. 818-507-5812