Camera lucida

A camera lucida is an optical device used as a drawing aid by artists.

The camera lucida performs an optical superimposition of the subject being viewed upon the

surface upon which the artist is drawing. The artist sees both scene and drawing surface
simultaneously, as in a photographic double exposure. This allows the artist to duplicate key
points of the scene on the drawing surface, thus aiding in the accurate rendering of
perspective.
The camera lucida was patented in 1806 by William Hyde Wollaston
The name "camera lucida" (Latin for "light chamber") is obviously intended to recall the much
older drawing aidn short, a camera lucida allows you to trace what you see. And it does so in
full daylight; there’s no need for a dark shroud or enclosure, as with a camera obscura. And
that is the magic of the camera lucida: it’s portable, easy to use, and—with a little practice—
you just copy the world onto your page with a confident hand.

What is the difference between camera obscura and camera lucida?

The camera lucida is an optical device which merges an image of a scene and the artist's hand
on paper for tracing. By contrast, the camera obscura is an optical device that projects a
realtime image through a small pinhole (or lens) into a darkened room.

Armed with pencils, pens, paint, paper, sketchbooks, and drawing board, Frederick
Catherwood was determined to capture the art and architecture of the Maya world
accurately. Thus, he brought the latest technology: the camera lucida, a device that uses a
prism to reflect the landscape onto a traceable surface. The camera lucida is still available
today through art-supply channels but is not well known or widely used.