Off Enlarger?

[canonetc]

Hi All,

really need help with this one. I have a perfectly sharp 2-1/2 negative, corner to corner; but when I print, the left 1/3 of the image comes out soft, while the rest of the print is razor sharp.

I'm guessing my enlarger needs adjustment so that the board is truly parallel with the lens. But no matter what I do nothing works! Argh! How do I adjust this?

I;ve tried raising my easel, tiliting the lens mount, etc.

Any ideas? It's a motorized Beseler, dual bellows, single light source.

Cheers,

Chris

 

[photodog]

Could be alignment of the enlarger but you need to check the lens and both filter drawers to see if anything is blocking the light path. Check the condenser too. Maybe try another lens.

Were you able to get sharp prints in the past? If so, what has changed?

 

[kbg32]

The negative stage, lens stage, and easel must all be parallel to each other. I would also check that the condensers are sitting properly as well. I recommend using a line level. A small level with an air bubble. Check side to side and front to back.

I never liked Beselers for this reason. They always seemed hard to keep in alignment.

 

[eric]

Any ideas? It's a motorized Beseler, dual bellows, single light source.

Cheers,

Chris

Get a small torpedo level and check allignment on the baseboards. Do it in this direction " | " and then do it in this direction "--". Do the same with the lens. Then put your easel on it, and check the easel the same way.

Also, is the negative getting too hot and curling?

 

[canonetc]

Could be alignment of the enlarger but you need to check the lens and both filter drawers to see if anything is blocking the light path. Check the condenser too. Maybe try another lens.

Were you able to get sharp prints in the past? If so, what has changed?

Nothing I can think of, other than age.....I will try the recommendations made by everyone here as well. Thanks ALL!!

C.

 

[Ralf]

I have had a problem with a Durst Graduate with the alignment of the condensor. It had become dislodged and caused a light fall off on one side of the image and, softening as well.

Focus the neg on the printing easel (or other flat surface). Try tilting the printing easel towards the lens (lift it off the baseboard surface). See if this causes the soft area to sharpen. If is does, I have no idea what you should do next. It's just something I would do. Sort of making it up as I go along actually 🙂

The next thing you may try, is adjusting the focus so that the unsharp 1/3 of the image becomes sharp (assuming that the other 2/3 will become unsharp) Does this happen??

 

[ddutchison]

Are you using a glass neg. carrier?

Heat from the light will cause the neg. to expand. In some holders, the negative will "pop" up a little higher, and out of focus (I had a real problem with this once and had to leave the light on for about 30 sec. before the negative finally settled, then refocus). Larger negs tend to be effected more, and 220 film which is thinner than 120 is even more sensitive.

If this is your problem, either a glass carrier, or heat absorbing glass over top of the condensers will fix it.

 

[canonetc]

Yes, I tilted first; that worked a bit, but made my square image tweaked on the print.

And I did try the focusing you mentioned. Not quite there either.

What did work "better" was 1) Tightening the lens-board supports underneath the enlarging head. One screw in the corner had come loose, causing the lensboard to sit un-level. 2) Removing some duct tape I had on the top of the carrier, and 3) Turning the neg carrier 90 degrees to the right.

Foolish me. I think the darned duct tape was the main culprit, which caused the neg-carrier to tilt downward on the left side at a slight angle instead of sitting parallel to the easel.

Anyway, thanks all for your recommendations and advice. I still have to make sure this comes out right!!

So cool I can come to RFF and get great advice from nice folks.

Cheers to all,

C.

 

[photodog]

This may sound weird but have you checked the condenser setting? The Beseler enlargers have a knob to adjust the condenser position for different formats. The knob should be behind the lamphouse.