Prints from 35mm negs

[c.poulton]

I know this might be a rather stupid question, so please forgive my ignorance but I've agreed to exhibit one or two of my images for a mixed art exhibition. I've got three or four images in mind but not having actually printed any of my images for quite some time (can you believe it!) I'm wondering whether there is an optimum print size for a print taken from a 35mm negative? (Kodak Tri-X 400)

I'm looking to have some prints made professionally using a traditional darkroom.

Also, for wall display in a fairly light environment with mixed natural and artificial lighting, what paper would people recommend and should I mount behind glass?

Again, sorry if all this appears obvious but it has been almost 30 years since I was doing this myself when I had my own darkroom.... 😱

 

[lonemantis]

If you care a lot about sharpness/tonality/print quality, the safest choice is probably 8x10 or 8x12, since there are very few 35mm negs that don't hold up to that size of enlargement. You should probably also be fine with standard glossy Ilford Multigrade RC paper, since it tends to work well with a wide variety of shots. I would also generally mount it behind glass - glossy paper + glass tends to give the photo a lot more pop than just a matte print.

In mixed group exhibitions, I usually won't go larger than 12x18" without a good reason since I don't want to feel like I'm grabbing too much attention.

Other than that, it really depends on what size you think best suits your photos. It's a personal, artistic decision!

 

[presspass]

Sadly, there's no easy answer to this question. For wall display, I usually print on 11x14 paper and keep a border, so the photograph is a bit larger than 8x10. But I have seen them as small as 5x7 and the large ones are much bigger - 16x20 perhaps. I don't print that large, and I don't like tiny ones for wall display, but that's a personal choice. BTW, all mine are from either Tri-X or HP5+.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Christian,

Unfortunately it's a meaningless question, as everything depends on the intention of the artist (that's YOU). If you don't know, how can anyone tell you?

One answer: As small as possible. Postcard-sized prints can operate as a "magic window" but are just about big enough to see: they can almost be mistaken for contact prints.

Another answer: As big as possible. The artifacts of the photographic process (grain, sharpness) are an essential part of the image.

A third answer: Of a size suitable for display in the gallery in which they will be shown.

A fourth answer: Of a size suitable for display in a domestic setting.

A fifth answer: As big as you can afford.

There are more but those five will do for a start.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Schlapp]

I'm beginning to think small is the new black.
And when I say small, I mean 2" x 4" perhaps.

 

[c.poulton]

Dear Christian, Unfortunately it's a meaningless question, as everything depends on the intention of the artist (that's YOU)....

Roger,

I kind of realised this just after posting the question - it all depends...!

I guess my concern was to try and obtain the best quality from a 'modest' enlargement of a 35mm neg, but I can see that this is probably the wrong way to approach it.

Thanks

 

[c.poulton]

If you care a lot about sharpness/tonality/print quality, the safest choice is probably 8x10 or 8x12, since there are very few 35mm negs that don't hold up to that size of enlargement. You should probably also be fine with standard glossy Ilford Multigrade RC paper, since it tends to work well with a wide variety of shots. I would also generally mount it behind glass - glossy paper + glass tends to give the photo a lot more pop than just a matte print. In mixed group exhibitions, I usually won't go larger than 12x18" without a good reason since I don't want to feel like I'm grabbing too much attention. Other than that, it really depends on what size you think best suits your photos. It's a personal, artistic decision!

Excellent advice 🙂

Many thanks

 

[marameo]

Do you crop when you print 8x10?

How big should you print? Big enough to fit the picture..

 

[Steve M.]

If you mount it behind glass, you're going to have reflections. Not fun. The optimal print size really depends on the quality of the negative and what your image is. A portrait may be able to be blown up quite large, whereas a landscape may start to fall apart w/ the same size print. People DO like large prints, myself included, but it doesn't work for every image.