Printing: how to align paper / contrast

[martin s]

How do people do it, that you always have the same spacing? How do you align the paper so it's right in the middle and straight? Probably seem like stupid questions, but I just can't seem to figure it out.

And my second question, when I do a small print with a certain contrast and do a larger print later, will the contrast be consistent?

Thanks in advance, martin

 

[sepiareverb]

Look for an easel- a metal frame with slots to hold the paper and blades for keeping it flat and cropping (if adjustable) The Beseler 1114 easel is my favorite, and the Saunders single size ones as well.

Contrast/time is never exactly repeatable, but you're usually close enough.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Get an 11X14 4 blade easel that has alignment slots for centering the paper. They're usually set up for 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14 paper sizes. you can vary the width of all four margins that way, with the image centered. They come in two baseboard thicknesses. One is just thin metal, the other raises the paper exactly one inch above the baseboard to work with Omega auto-focus enlargers, but it can be used with any enlarger. Both of my enlargers have one. I got one second hand in 1967 and the other, also used, about 1972. They may be expensive but they last forever!

 

[martin s]

I actually have one of those things you're talking about, the issue was to align the paper with that thingy. Now that I figured out how it works it's pretty embarrassing to have asked I have to admit 😉

Thanks a lot for the quick replies.

martin

 

[Al Kaplan]

No problem. Go stand in the corner for a time out while hanging your head in shame. (We all do things like that.)

 

[payasam]

For any large print, whether or not I'd done a smaller one of the same negative earlier, I'd do a test piece or two.

 

[Henk]

Indeed an easel. I have an RR Beard, bought for 40$, solid as a rock.

Contrast should not change. Exposure does.
I use an RH design f-stop timer and expose in f-stops. If you expose in f-stops, then when changing format, in f-stops it will always be the same exposure change, easy.

 

[martin s]

Thanks guys, another question not worth opening a thread for. You can develop paper in tanks, right? Now how does that work, wouldn't the rolled up paper overlap inside the tube thus not develop evenly?

martin

 

[snip]

Thanks guys, another question not worth opening a thread for. You can develop paper in tanks, right? Now how does that work, wouldn't the rolled up paper overlap inside the tube thus not develop evenly?

martin

most rotary tanks for developing paper takes up the format that will allow the paper to be inside the tank without overlapping, maybe some use a spiral, I don't know.


//J

 

[martin s]

I have one here which says 40x50 on it and I just can't imagine it'd fit without some kind of spiral.

martin