Good day and thanks for any responses.... I just had my first 16x20 printed (by Photobition in Seattle) from one of my first transparencies in 4x5. I was a bi t less than satisfied with the overall sharpness (when examining up close). I w as expecting more from all I've read about 4x5 when I launched myself into it. I have a question on what actually to expect on a print, sorry for any naiviete.
I am using an Arca Swiss field with a Schneider 110XL, fuji velvia quickload. I have educated myself with lots of good info on this site and books and am rathe r meticulous with my process. I followed appropriate procedures including using the OPTIMUM fstop for the focus spread indicated. I examined the transparency (photo of lots of trees and a nice river in motion) on a light table with my 4x Rodenstock loupe. Looked very sharp on the table. But on receipt of the print, it seems soft when looking at it up close. Of course standing at 2 feet and be yond, the image appears sharp on print.
QUESTION: Should a 16x20 enlargement from a sharp transparency appear not so sh arp when looking very close, but only appear sharp at 2 feet or more and beyond? Perhaps the lab didn't print as well as I would have liked, or perhaps my tran sparency was not as sharp as I thought. I've seen enlargements that appeared sh arped than my image up close. And I'm wondering what might be the case.
Either way, I truely believe I did the best I could in technique to get the shar pest image on transparency. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated as I plan to make images much larger than 16x20 in the future, 16x20 is my minimum size e xpectations, and I'm less than satisfied thus far.
Thanks......
Bookmarks