1. My big ol' butt and a genuine Xerox copier
2. Vacuum easel in a self contained light box
A plain sheet of glass
A sheet of glass hinged to a base
A contaqct printing or POP frame
A box with a light source and a glass top with a lid
Something else
1. My big ol' butt and a genuine Xerox copier
2. Vacuum easel in a self contained light box
I used to use a big sheet of glass, but now I use contact printing frames.
A printing frame would be more convenient, and I wish I could use one. I ended up with the glass sandwich because I've had insoluble problems with Newton's rings with every printing frame I've tried over the years. Glass-on-glass evidently generates much more even pressure. At any rate, in my darkroom it's the only way I've found so far to avoid the rings.
I bought a fabulous free standing Douthitt vacuum frame from a print shop for $120 - it's about 30x40, and the guy I bought it from delivered it for an extra $20 and helped me get it inside. It doubles as an excellent coating station for any hand coated process I choose - it has adjustable feet and the glass surface is perfectly smooth. It also has a nice metal frame around the glass in case of a spill.
Just a note on Newton's rings. I found with my setup that they would move around right after I first put the glass down (you can see them in reflection of the safelight if you look carefully). As long as I made my exposure right after I put the glass down, they would not show up. If I waited until they stabilized in their position, the would always show up.
Vacuum frame
Contact print frame. The largest I contact print is 8x10, the smallest (so far) has been 6cmx6cm.
Mike
Politically, aerodynamically, and fashionably incorrect.
I use a piece of 1/4" glass for my 8x10 Azo prints. For 11x14 and 8x20 on Azo it is my Vacuum frame. For carbon it is a contact printing frame that I made for 8x10. When I get good enough to do 11x14 and 8x20 carbon it will be with the vacuum frame.
Jim
vacuum frame
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