Some years ago, I bought a Cambo 8x10 studio camera from a dealer in the mid-west. Although reasonably well packed, the GG was broken during shipping. I just patched it back together with magic tape/scotch tape and made an unexpected discovery.
Where ever the tape lay on the glass on the inside of the ground glass against the ground surface, the resulting view through the ground glass was as crystal clear as if looking out a window. Focusing became a breeze in any light or through any dark filter. I put a small strip of tape in the center of the ground glass (on the inside) and four other strips near the GG corners (too close to the corners precludes seeing the image with a lupe). Focusing center and corner elements of artwork with a lupe of any kind is now so easy and accurate, I wonder why I haven't heard anyone else mention this trick.
Standard procedure now is to strategically place small patches of tape across the ground glass for studio copywork. All 8x10 copy is done using an Apo-Ronar 360mm--corner to corner sharpness is superb since the focus is much closer than infinity. Tape on the GG of a smaller 4x5 Graphic View using an Apo-Ronar 240mm works fine as well.
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