Andy Kibber
Well-known
Agreed. Cut a 1" strip off, to bring the paper size to 7" x 10". With a 1/2" boarder around the image, you have a 6" x 9" image (2:3 ratio).
Use the 1" x 10" pieces as test strips.
Best paper size for 35mm
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Agreed. Cut a 1" strip off, to bring the paper size to 7" x 10". With a 1/2" boarder around the image, you have a 6" x 9" image (2:3 ratio).
Use the 1" x 10" pieces as test strips.
twvancamp
Thom
One interesting theory is that paper sizes arose from their animal hide/velum predecessors. The largest rectangle you can get from an animal hide has about the same proportions/ratio as today's standard paper.
http://paper.lib.uiowa.edu/chron.php
Erik van Straten
Veteran
I only make 18x24cm prints, an old Europese format. The prints are flattened in a Seal Compress 110 and stored in old photopaper boxes. It is nice to take a box to bed with you to have a look at the pictures before sleeping.
Erik.
Erik.
KenR
Well-known
Glass plates
Glass plates
I always thought that paper sizes and sheet film sizes were based on the earlier glass plate sizes. Many older windows have multiple rows of 8x10 glass panes as this was the commonly available size (= cheapest). When wet plate photographers started borrowing glass plates to use in their cameras in the 1850's they generally used the cheapest available glass, which was 8x10. Break one of those into quarters and you have 4x5. Papers were sized to match those plates.
That's what I recall from a history of photography course in the 1990's, but it may be myth as well.
Glass plates
I always thought that paper sizes and sheet film sizes were based on the earlier glass plate sizes. Many older windows have multiple rows of 8x10 glass panes as this was the commonly available size (= cheapest). When wet plate photographers started borrowing glass plates to use in their cameras in the 1850's they generally used the cheapest available glass, which was 8x10. Break one of those into quarters and you have 4x5. Papers were sized to match those plates.
That's what I recall from a history of photography course in the 1990's, but it may be myth as well.
narsuitus
Well-known
When I want to print the full image from my 35mm film cameras or my 6x9cm medium format cameras without much paper cutting or image cropping, I use the following paper sizes:
3 1/2 x 5 inches
5 x 7 inches
20 x 30 inches
3 1/2 x 5 inches
5 x 7 inches
20 x 30 inches
ACullen
Well-known
I do a whole variety of crops on 35mm but almost never on 6x6 120 format. These latter negs are pretty much always printed square. For 35mm 5x7 paper is my smallest size and often where I start before printing bigger. For 6x6 , i'd print square onto 8x10- giving an image under 8x8 (with a 5mm border). Crazy I know mixing imperial and metric but there you go...
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Yes, I always print the full frame, with a very thin black border around the image. So the image within the black border shows 100% of the negative. The black border itself is not drawn, but is a small piece of unexposed space around the image on the film, in fact the inside of the camera.
gelatine silver print (summicron 35mm v4) leica mp
Erik.
Doug A
Well-known
Red River Paper sells several of their papers in 9 x 13 size, perfect for 8 x 12 prints.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Is the OP printing wet, in the darkroom or with a digital printer?
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I print most of my keepers on economical 5x7 RC paper. If exceptional I will make an 8x10.
I normally crop the frame slightly to fit but I recently acquired a 5x7 full frame Speed-Ez-El.
Chris
I normally crop the frame slightly to fit but I recently acquired a 5x7 full frame Speed-Ez-El.
Chris
Andy Kibber
Well-known
The black boarder is classic. Beautiful photo Erik.
Doug A
Well-known
I assumed that the OP is wet printing and that many of the comments, particularly those mentioning test strips, were related to wet printing. I also assumed that some readers following the discussion are inkjet printing, as I am, and have exactly the same issue about paper sizes.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
zuiko85
Veteran
I became a fan of the 3:4 ratio in 1970 when by chance I purchased a used Olympus Pen vf camera. With the half frame neg you can print 6X8 on 8x10 paper with a one inch border on all sides. Strangely I also started to see many more compositions in vertical because when the camera is held normally that is the orientation of the frame.
That little Pen original was supplemented by a couple of Pen F bodies and several lenses a year later.
That little Pen original was supplemented by a couple of Pen F bodies and several lenses a year later.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Yes, I always print the full frame, with a very thin black border around the image. So the image within the black border shows 100% of the negative. The black border itself is not drawn, but is a small piece of unexposed space around the image on the film, in fact the inside of the camera.
gelatine silver print (summicron 35mm v4) leica mp
Erik.
I like that look, Eric. I will try it.
Prest_400
Multiformat
I began printing on 24x30 paper but my 6x9 negs require some cropping or cutting. For FB paper I use the rotating trimmer for a side and reduce paper to 20/21x30 and the part cut is left for a test strip.
The photo club where I print in has quite a bit of old 18x24 Orwo paper and I began to lith print. Interestingly nice and well fitting for 35mm ratio prints with a nice border.
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Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Yes, I always print the full frame, with a very thin black border around the image. So the image within the black border shows 100% of the negative. The black border itself is not drawn, but is a small piece of unexposed space around the image on the film, in fact the inside of the camera.
gelatine silver print (summicron 35mm v4) leica mp
Erik.
I like that look, Eric. I will try it. My Durst has one negative carrier that is precisely the size of the negative. It won't work for this, but the other carrier is adjustable. A pain, but adjustable.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Yes, and this is a great idea! I have tried this, and forgot about it! A good size for 35mm as well! And will look good on an 11 x 14 matte board.
David Hughes
David Hughes
What I find weird is that Kodak's APS includes a 3:2 ratio; and they can* print them at 5" x 7½" but 35mm film cannot and you get 5" x 7".
And on the digital side; would you believe the people making digital cameras also make printers and will sell you paper for it but how you match them apart from 4x6 and 13" x 19" with a nice ½" margin escapes me.
Regards, David
*Or rather, they could print them as APS has gone the way of the dodo.
And on the digital side; would you believe the people making digital cameras also make printers and will sell you paper for it but how you match them apart from 4x6 and 13" x 19" with a nice ½" margin escapes me.
Regards, David
*Or rather, they could print them as APS has gone the way of the dodo.
jsrockit
Moderator
I find it curious that this stresses some people out. I guess they feel ripped off?
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