Confusion

[macandal]

This always confuses the living hell out of me. Ok. I know this is so very basic, and, therefore, my question is so very stupid, but, how do you load a 4x5 sheet of film onto an enlarger to make a print?

First of all, on a 4x5 sheet of film, the emulsion side is the side where the image is captured (emulsion side is the side, when in the holder while taking the picture, that faces the subject being photographed). In other words, if I'm holding a sheet of 4x5 and I want to face the emulsion side, I would be looking at the notches either on the upper right or lower left corner, right?

Ok, so how do you load the sheet onto the negative carrier to make an enlargement? I tried looking on the web, on youtube, and they just say, "you load it on the negative carrier and..." and then they go on but skip that important step of emulsion side up or down, orientation of sheet straight up or upside down? Can someone help me out?

Thanks.

[Mark Sawyer]

Emulsion side down. Do it emulsion side up, and everything will be reversed.

[Vaughn]

Yes -- the key is "Emulsion-to-emulsion", if enlarging or contact printing one's negatives.

The emulsion of the photographic paper in the easel is facing up, so the emulsion of the negative should be facing down towards it.

[ROL]

Emulsion side down. Do it emulsion side up, and everything will be reversed.

Which is one reason why it may not be specified. You may choose to reverse the image. I'm not aware of any practical qualitative differences in doing this. The sheet will be upside down in the enlarger's carrier, if you want to print viewing the projected image right-side up, for the same reasons (e.g., the wacky world of lens optics) as the image appearing upside down on your GG, assuming your "real" world subjects are upright :eek:.

To sum up: emulsion down (towards paper, as Vaughn has stated), upside-down, normally.

FWIW, the only stupid questions are the ones I ask, if history is any indication. That's why I only answer them.




...now how do I get out of here, again?

[macandal]

FWIW, the only stupid questions are the ones I ask, if history is any indication. That's why I only answer them.No worries, ROL, I'm now here to help you. I have lots of stupid questions in my repertoire.

Thanks.

[lenser]

As my hero, Dean Collins, said in both of his seminars that I attended; "There are NO stupid questions. There are only people who are too stupid to ask, so they never find out."

My simple rule of thumb is, The emulsion ALWAYS faces the lens, either in the camera, or the enlarger. The two exceptions are in contact printing where there is no lens, or on the rare occasion when you may wish to reverse the image in printing.

[Bruce Osgood]

What about flatbed scanning (Epson 4990)? I don't do much of it and I always get confused. I think I've settled on emulsion to moving lamp.

[Jim Jones]

For flatbed scanning with the film in contact with the scanner's cover glass, scanning emulsion side down reduces the possibility of Newton's rings with some film. Then flip the image in the computer.

[Ian Gordon Bilson]

And ,Ctein suggested recently,a best way to scan a damaged print. Scan,turn original around,scan again. This has advantages I can't explain,but it made sense to me.

[gmfotografie]

and how is the situation with the enlarger when you use anti newtonglas ? the same ?

[rcmartins]

and how is the situation with the enlarger when you use anti newtonglas ? the same ?

The newton rings result from coherent interference between smooth glass/non-glass interfaces. The emulsion side is not smooth and thus should not really need AN glass below, that is between the emulsion and the lens. On the top side, the emulsion is smooth and therefore you should put the AN glass on top. The frosted side, or non smooth side, of the AN glass should be placed in contact with the smooth side of the film. In a nutshell, in vertical enlargers and going down towards paper there should be: light head on top, dichroic mixer or condensers depending on the type of head, AN glass with frosted side down, film with emulsion down, normal glass, lens and paper.
Raul

[Brian Ellis]

. . . In other words, if I'm holding a sheet of 4x5 and I want to face the emulsion side, I would be looking at the notches either on the upper right or lower left corner, right? . . . Thanks.

If you're holding the film in your right hand and you want the emulsion side to face you, you'd be looking at the notches either on the upper right corner if you're holding the film vertically or on the lower right (not left) corner if you're holding it horizontally.

[Heroique]

I’m mostly an emulsion-down guy, but occasionally, I’m emulsion-up:


1) Loading film holders – emulsion up.
2) Film sheets in development tray – emulsion up
3) Directly on scanner bed – emulsion down
4) On scanner variable-height mounting glass – emulsion mostly down, sometimes up – always dry mounted. *** Important note: Flipping the mounting glass so the film faces the scanner bed doesn’t change “down” to “up,” or “up” to “down” – even though the emulsion side that had been facing up or down during the mounting process now faces the opposite direction during the scanning process. ;^)
5) Enlarger film carrier – emulsion down (toward paper)
6) Contact printing frame – emulsion down (against paper)
7) Light table – emulsion down

If sheets are stored in Print File storage sheets in a 3-ring binder, emulsion is down, and like #3 above, “turning the page” doesn’t change “down” to “up,” or “up” to “down.” :D

[ROL]

No worries, ROL, I'm now here to help you. I have lots of stupid questions in my repertoire.

Thanks.

Correction: When I wrote, "That's why I only answer them", I intended "them" to mean questions, not stupid questions. Probably not just as funny either way. I realized later the compactness of words didn't communicate my intention accurately. Just trying to make light of anyone who thinks their question is stupid. Uhhh... When in hole, stop digging :o.

[tautatis]

It seems to me Mcandal has an enlarger problem. He did not say the enlarger size he is using. Regardless which side is up the image on the paper will appear. I think he has to be specific. If the enlarge was a 4x5 and assuming he has the right negative carrier then the question would have been different.

Macandal, do you have the right equipment? If yes, then what all others have said above should solve your problem? Good luck!

Tautatis.

[macandal]

Macandal, do you have the right equipment? If yes, then what all others have said above should solve your problem? Good luck!
Yes, I do. I'm doing 4x5 in the right enlarger and with the right negative carrier.