Cardboard Camera Obscura Template

For a faster and easier cardboard camera obscura session in a classroom or group setting, you can prepare several of the following card-stock paper templates ahead of time. Using a pencil, students draw around the perimeter the template, join the marks with a straightedge, and proceed with cutting the cardboard. No measuring is needed.

Back to Full Project Instructions

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Preparing the Template

Use the following plan to create the template. If you have a printer that can print on card stock (stiff paper) 18+ inches wide, go to the SVG file and print out the image at full size (100% scaling). Otherwise, you'll need to measure, mark, and draw this plan on the card stock.



Cut away the tan parts of the plan, leaving just the purple part. Use scissors to cut out the five notches around the perimeter. Use a hobby knife to cut out the six tiny triangles along the vertical line inside the plan, and the hole for the lens.

Make enough templates so that the students don't have to wait too long to have a turn using it, such as one template per four students in the class. The templates can be reused.

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Using the Template

Here are instructions for the students.

1. Place the plan on the cardboard with the horizontal edges exactly parallel to the "grain" of the cardboard (the direction of the long pleats inside the cardboard). The pleat lines are faintly visible on the cardboard.
   
   
   
   
2. Tape the plan to the cardboard to keep it in position. Using a pencil, draw around the perimeter of the plan. Include the five notches around the perimeter, the six tiny triangles along the vertical line inside the plan, and the hole for the lens. Untape and remove the plan.
   
   
   
3. Draw the solid and dashed lines shown in the following diagram. The horizontal lines should be exactly parallel to the pleat lines.
   
   
4. Proceed with the cutting step of the project.

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