Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 24

Thread: keeping the paper flat....

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    156

    keeping the paper flat....

    hey all,
    i seem to be having an issue with keeping my ilford warm tone fiber flat on the easel.
    any ideas?
    using a saunders 4 blade easel and a lpl 4550 enlarger
    thanks!

  2. #2
    Maris Rusis's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Noosa, Australia.
    Posts
    1,214

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    Paper flatness is not at all critical for most enlarging ratios. The image depth of field at the easel level is several millimetres and a good 4 blade easel will hold paper much flatter than is actually needed. On the other hand depth of focus at the negative level is very small and a tiny change of focus makes a big difference in the sharpness of the projected image.
    Photography:first utterance. Sir John Herschel, 14 March 1839 at the Royal Society. "...Photography or the application of the Chemical rays of light to the purpose of pictorial representation,..".

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    156

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    @maris,
    ok so i am getting sections of the print that are out of focus while most of it is in focus.
    the negative is sharp and is not the problem
    any recommendations?

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Sheridan, Colorado
    Posts
    2,426

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    We need more details. Is the paper held down on the edges, or not? If it is, does it pop up in the middle?

    Have you aligned the enlarger with the baseboard? You can do this by taking a scrap negative, cutting an "X" in the emulsion from corner to corner with a needle, etc., putting it in the enlarger and focusing one of the corners. You can usually do this "by eye". If all the corners are not sharp, you need to align the enlarger and the baseboard. Check you owner's manual.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    156

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    hi
    using a saunders 4 blade easel and a lpl 4550 enlarger
    the enlarger is a one post and head enlarger on a baseboard so theres no alignment option
    the easel is holding down the paper but i am getting areas of out of focus while the negative is tack sharp
    using Ilford warmtone fiber 11x14 paper

  6. #6
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Winona, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,413

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    Quote Originally Posted by dave4242 View Post
    hi
    using a saunders 4 blade easel and a lpl 4550 enlarger
    the enlarger is a one post and head enlarger on a baseboard so theres no alignment option
    the easel is holding down the paper but i am getting areas of out of focus while the negative is tack sharp
    using Ilford warmtone fiber 11x14 paper
    I built a platform on top of the base board to support a Saunders 16x10 easel. It has three level screws to bring it to absolute alignment. I'm sure several of us can elaborate if necessary.
    .

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    156

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    @jac
    ok thanks appreciate the insight

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Sheridan, Colorado
    Posts
    2,426

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    There may not be an option to adjust it, but a scratched negative is still a good test -- unless you have a focusing aid that you can use in each corner. If nothing else, open up the lens all the way and tell us if the image on the easel appears focused in ALL corners -- WITHOUT the paper.

  9. #9
    Tim Sandstrom
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    318

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    I keep small flat magnets on each blade, but I'd check the alignment as well...

  10. #10
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Winona, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,413

    Re: keeping the paper flat....

    Quote Originally Posted by dave4242 View Post
    @jac
    ok thanks appreciate the insight
    Stay tuned. I will be situated to inform in detail in a week or so.
    .

Similar Threads

  1. ULF film holders, keeping them flat...
    By Miguel Coquis in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 27-Apr-2012, 18:02
  2. keeping fiber prints flat?
    By Steve M Hostetter in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 7-Sep-2009, 02:25
  3. Keeping up with the flat stuff
    By Herb Cunningham in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 31-May-2007, 18:55
  4. Keeping up with the BIG flat stuff
    By Herb Cunningham in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-Feb-2007, 10:16
  5. Holding paper flat
    By Phil Brammer in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 15-Aug-2001, 13:12

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •