Best paper size for 35mm

[LeicaFoReVer]

Hi guys,

I have done printing only a couple of times. I am a beginner. I am confused with the paper sizes. I only shoot 35mm and the paper I bought wasnt covering all 35mm frame. I bought ıilford 8x10 but I realize 8x11 is also not ideal so which paper gives 1.5 ratio like full frame. by math it looks like it should be 8x12 but this isnt a common paper size as far as I see in the stores. I saw in the "last prints" thread here people post photos with black line around suggesting the prints covering the full frame (?).

 

[Doug]

You can use a paper cutter to take some off the long side to narrow the paper to the proportions you prefer. Then use that slice of paper, maybe cut further, as test strips as you prepare to print an image. Or, some people crop every image to fit 8x10. Alternately, you may find that not all images are suited for the 2:3 proportions of the typical 35mm film frame, and call for some other proportion. That can make things more complicated when it comes to framing them, though!

 

[fdarnell]

11 x 14

11 x 14

Used to do most of my 35mm full frames on 11 x 14, cutting a 2 inch strip off for a test strip to give a 9 x 14 working size (roughly). Mounts and matts nice on 16 x 20. Pretty economical.

Oh, the Portriga Rapid days!!

 

[p.giannakis]

Hi guys,

I have done printing only a couple of times. I am a beginner. I am confused with the paper sizes. I only shoot 35mm and the paper I bought wasnt covering all 35mm frame. I bought ıilford 8x10 but I realize 8x11 is also not ideal so which paper gives 1.5 ratio like full frame. by math it looks like it should be 8x12 but this isnt a common paper size as far as I see in the stores. I saw in the "last prints" thread here people post photos with black line around suggesting the prints covering the full frame (?).

I'm on the same boat with you on this, started printing on 8x10 and it does leave uneven space but I have a guillotine and this sorts it out.

 

[Freakscene]

Used to do most of my 35mm full frames on 11 x 14, cutting a 2 inch strip off for a test strip to give a 9 x 14 working size (roughly). Mounts and matts nice on 16 x 20. Pretty economical.

Oh, the Portriga Rapid days!!

My standard small prints are about 6x9 full frame on 8x10 paper. These are good for scanning on an A4 size flatbed scanner. Exhibition prints are about 10x15 on 12x16 inch paper - given that you are closer to Europe than the US that should be an available size.

Adox are making 21x29.7cm A4 size photo paper that is very close to 2:3 aspect ratio.

Marty

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Thank you guys. Ok I feel good now. I thought I chose wrong sizes all the time. So there is no standard. I wonder why.

Cutting is a good idea which I should have thought 😀 However I dont have a paper guillotine to use in the darkroom in order to use the cut pieces as test strip. That is a good idea also.

 

[jsrockit]

It is always smart to print smaller than the paper... especially if you want to mat and frame the photo. I even think it always looks better to leave a border on the paper as well even if not matting and framing.

 

[Freakscene]

So there is no standard. I wonder why.

The paper sizes became ‘standard’ before 35mm film was widely used, possibly before it existed (my earliest paper catalogue is from 1913).

Marty

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

The paper sizes became ‘standard’ before 35mm film was widely used, possibly before it existed (my earliest paper catalogue is from 1913).

Marty

Thank you Marty for the information!!!
and I wonder the photo frame standards, do they follow the paper standards? In that case trimming creates another problem to frame it later on if you want to hang them on the wall. Sorry for the basic questions. Google isnt best place to ask sometimes.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

"However I dont have a paper guillotine to use in the darkroom in order to use the cut pieces as test strip. That is a good idea also."

Under a safelight you can easily pre-trim your paper with a steel ruler & utility knife. I shoot a lot of 6x6 negatives & regularly trim paper for test strips.

" I wonder the photo frame standards" While there are pre-made frames, companies like "Neilsen" make frames to order. Many photographers standardize their mat and frame sizes so as to economize on mat board & # of frames.

"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/picture-frames/guide-to-frame-and-mat-dimensions-for-common-print-sizes" I used to use custom sizes, but in the past 5 years I've standardized after reading Bruce Barnbaum's book "The Art of Photography"

A professional matting & framing job adds to the quality of your image.

 

[Malcolm M]

A4 size (1:414) is not far off 35mm (1:1.5). Certainly closer than 8x10.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Learn how to take pictures without need of cropping.
Print entire picture on 8x10. Use extra white space to hang and then hold the print.

 

[jsrockit]

A 6x9” print on 8x10” paper looks pretty good on its own.

 

[Bob Michaels]

LeicaForEver: I suggest you step back and objectively determine if the 1 x 1.5 aspect ratio (35mm full frame) is absolutely essential to you. It is no more than an arbitrary ratio determined by 35mm camera manufacturers. Just don't believe the voices on the internet insisting you must use the entire frame. If that is what works best for you, fine then use it. But you can use other aspect ratios as well.

Personally, the 4x5 aspect ratio (8x10) usually works best for me. That is not driven by paper size but by what I believe looks best with my photos. Others differ. But I am not bothered in the least to crop off the ends of a 35mm negative or the top and bottom of a 6x6 negative.

Realize you have choices.

 

[megido]

A 18x12cm print looks very elegant on 18x24cm paper due to the equal borders. The print size retains the tones and details from a 35mm neg.

 

[BernardL]

LeicaForEver: I suggest you step back and objectively determine if the 1 x 1.5 aspect ratio (35mm full frame) is absolutely essential to you.

+1
I print 35mm on 5x7" (12.7x17.8cm~13x18) first, then, for a smaller selection, on 7x9.5" (17.8x24.1cm~18x24), different aspect ratio. I am generally not bothered by cropping out the long sides to fill the paper format. And I feel the 1.5:1 ratio is too wide. YMMV.

 

[KenR]

I generally print 9x13.5 on 11x14 sheets from both 35mm and 6x9 negs. For smaller pix I cut an 11x14 sheet in half and print 7x11. For square negs I cut the paper down to 11x11 with plenty of ends left over for test strips. As someone said, you have to find what works for you.

 

[mike rosenlof]

I had a while that I did 11x7 (inch) prints (cut from 11x14) for 6x9 negs -- same 1.5 aspect as 35mm. It worked pretty well with narrow borders.


These days I tend to print about 6x8 on 8x10 paper leaving a nice border.

 

[View Range]

Your next discovery will be that pre-made frame / mat manufacturers use a whole different set of sizes.

 

[Rob-F]

Pretty much what Bernard L said. I usually print my 35mm negatives on Ilford 5 x 7 paper. Occasionally when a shot seems worth it, I go to 8 x 10 or 11 x 14. 5 x 7 is often big enough, fits the frame well, and is more economical than larger sizes.