Gridding a blank ground glass

[Jim Jones]

I print a computer generated pattern and tape it to the shiny side of the glass. The actual gridding is done with a ball-point pen that is long past depositing ink. Perhaps any scriber would do as well. This leaves unobtrusive bright lines. For better or worse, it is permanent.

[Turner Reich]

Gridding the glass is also useful for composing with roll film backs and Polaroid backs - anything where the frame isn't "full".

I stand corrected, you are absolutely correct. I did pencil one on, a long time ago, I forgot about using the Calumet roll holder.

[Colin Graham]

I print a computer generated pattern and tape it to the shiny side of the glass. The actual gridding is done with a ball-point pen that is long past depositing ink. Perhaps any scriber would do as well. This leaves unobtrusive bright lines. For better or worse, it is permanent.

I do this as well, the scribed lines are non-distracting yet easy to see when you need them.

[Michael Gudzinowicz]

I often used a sharp pencil on the ground glass itself. You may want to take the opportunity to use a small amount of dilute varnish to "fill" the ground glass at the center and a few other intersections. Those will be spots where you can accurately set the focus of your loupe. Then use them for focusing on the aerial image by checking side to side image displacement vs the reference lines when sharpness is critical. Use varnish ONLY on glass. The solvents required for it's removal will harm plastic.