anorak
Member
Hello there, I'm trying to print 30x40cm on my Durst M670 but I encountered a problem: the enlarger column is too close to the paper, as you can see in the illustration. I think the solution is to get a 30x40 easel with small borders. Any suggestion?
Unfortunately, I can't buy another enlarger now or mount it on the wall.
Unfortunately, I can't buy another enlarger now or mount it on the wall.
Attachments
sepiareverb
genius and moron
A shorter lens might help?
anorak
Member
I'm using a 105mm because I only work with 6x7.
presspass
filmshooter
I have not had a Durst for more than 30 years, so I don't remember if the column is round or not. If it's round, turn it 180 degrees so the enlarger faces off the short end of the baseboard. Then put some substantial weight on the large part of the enlarger and turn it around so the head and lens face the floor. Then you will have a much taller - thanks to the height of the table - column and you can get any paper size you want as long as it fits between the table legs. But be warned, fail to put a heavy weight on the base before turning it around will lead to catastrophe. I know, and I'm not saying how I learned it.
Beemermark
Veteran
Or you can try turning the column 180 deg if you have the room.
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Column is vertical? Or slanted?
We have a straightforward geometry problem. If column is straight, unless you are willing to crop off part of negative, you have to get the head further from the column. Remove head and add a spacer?
We have a straightforward geometry problem. If column is straight, unless you are willing to crop off part of negative, you have to get the head further from the column. Remove head and add a spacer?
anorak
Member
I didn't know such a thing existed! I'll look into the spacer suggestion.
kram
Well-known
Schneider Apo 90mm will do 6x7 no problem. Rodenstock 80mm f4 great centre slightly less sharp a extreme edges.
anorak
Member
I don't get how a shorter lens would help in this case. Won't I need to raise the enlarger head anyways? The image would still be at the same distance from the column at the desired size.
anorak
Member
What about borderless easels? Does anyone have some experience with one of those?
Nokton48
Veteran
Nokton48
Veteran
Drop Table 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr
Drop Table 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr
Omega DII Drop Table no 2 nearly completed by Nokton48, on FlickrI have two of these drop tables in my darkroom. A lot of work to build but worth the effort.
VictorM.
Well-known
According to the manual http://durst.loremi.com/instruction/M670_FR.pdf it should be possible to get up to 40X50 with a 105mm lens (Page 8). Page 9 shows how to reverse the enlarger for larger prints 'on the floor'. Or you can eliminate the easel by using a little double-sided tape to attach the paper directly to the enlarger baseboard
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
You aren't the first to face this problem, but probably isn't a product. Unscrew the enlarger head and see what it would take to position it out a couple of inches. You would probably have to make something.
I believe the column for this enlarger is straight up. It it were slanted, then you might make a bigger print by raising the enlarger head and picking a lens that would deliver the composition you want. But, who has that variety of enlarger lenses?
Freakscene
Obscure member
This is absolutely the way to go. Reverse the enlarger, project lower, and get a larger print. No new lens, no tinkering beyond the design engineering, or anything else required.
Marty
PRJ
Another Day in Paradise
Some of you are trying to overcomplicate the problem or haven't read what the OP is asking.
OP-you haven't told us what easel you are using.
Two bladed easels are quite a bit smaller and one of those should work for you.
Bonne chance...
OP-you haven't told us what easel you are using.
Two bladed easels are quite a bit smaller and one of those should work for you.
Bonne chance...
anorak
Member
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
You could put the paper directly on the baseboard without an easel. Just mark the baseboard to show where the corners go. Use a little tape if needed to keep the paper flat.
anorak
Member
What kind of tape I should use to avoid damaging the paper?
Steve M.
Veteran
You shouldn't need anything to hold the printing papers flat. They do that out of the box. But now that we're on that subject, I would highly recommend Adox MCC 110 papers if your budget allows it. I think they're worth the extra money not only for their superior blacks and whites, but because you end up using less paper for testing. I very seldom even have to filter it.
If the edge of the print is hitting the edge of the enlarger's column, then you have no choice but to reverse the head and project the neg onto something lower (or on the wall). Usually you can set the enlarger on something on a table and avoid having to deal w/ the floor. Don't forget to get your rulers and levels out so that the surface you're printing on will jibe with the levelness of your baseboard. As you print larger and larger any focus errors are magnified, so you want things nice and level w/ the lens board.
If the edge of the print is hitting the edge of the enlarger's column, then you have no choice but to reverse the head and project the neg onto something lower (or on the wall). Usually you can set the enlarger on something on a table and avoid having to deal w/ the floor. Don't forget to get your rulers and levels out so that the surface you're printing on will jibe with the levelness of your baseboard. As you print larger and larger any focus errors are magnified, so you want things nice and level w/ the lens board.