I found this in my FB feed, new enlarger for cell phones...

[Tin Can]

I have absolutely no connection with this project.

An enlarger for a cell phone, i think somebody has been studying up on enlargers right here, maybe even from me...

http://fojo.me/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=facebook_lookalike_all&utm_term=lookalike_all&utm_content=enfojer_kit

[StoneNYC]

You don't need a special enlarger for this, any enlarger will do fine.

[Drew Bedo]

What about one of the old Polaroid copy cameras; MP-3 or MP-4?

A DIY fitting could be made to couple the iPhone to the Graflok back .. .?

What is the estimated loss of resolution from the digital file to the viewing screen and then to the paper? I would think prints made this way would be pretty rough.

What is the expected print quality from a contact print; from an iPhone, from a tablet? Going with a tablet might bring this thread back from the edge of the Minox-to-Medium Format arena and into the realm of Large Format.Would there be any difference with the "Retina" displays?

[Jac@stafford.net]

Somewhat related - In the early Nineties we tested an IBM laptop which had a thin LCD screen which could be removed (tethered via a thin cable) and placed on a transparency projector. I had hoped to use one as a mask sandwiched with 8x10 transparencies for dodging/burning, but it never happened because we rejected the product. Could have been interesting.

[Tin Can]

Somewhat related - In the early Nineties we tested an IBM laptop which had a thin LCD screen which could be removed (tethered via a thin cable) and placed on a transparency projector. I had hoped to use one as a mask sandwiched with 8x10 transparencies for dodging/burning, but it never happened because we rejected the product. Could have been interesting.

I'm trying to work on something not exactly this, but fully analog with modern light source. Usable in a fully dark projection space, such as I have, which lowers the light needed.

Basically this wiki has it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large-format_slide_projector

Rapid laser trace projection is also current, but unaffordium.

I just can't afford my Bat Signal dreams...:(

I could Kick Myself.

[dsphotog]

Does the phone display a negative image? or are they using direct positive paper?

[Tin Can]

Does the phone display a negative image? or are they using direct positive paper?

No idea, but an APP could invert easily.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Does the phone display a negative image? or are they using direct positive paper?

The iPhone does. Settings - General - Accessibility - Invert Colors

Under the same menu you can set to Gray Scale as well.

[Drew Bedo]

I restate the question of resolution.

Just because a thinc CAN be done doesn't mskr it worth doing. Why would anyone want to print direct to paper via the viewing screen on a smart phone? If there is enough resolution, I might consider a contact print from a larger tablet, but a snart phone?

[Tin Can]

I think the inventor is trying to make a profit, it has nothing to do with perfection or 'improvement' over existing methods.

It's a toy.

[DKirk]

It's a toy.

Pretty much agree with you there, however if it gets more people interested in traditional printing and film then it could be a good thing. Would be more interested if it was for a full size iPad and had some kind of bluetooth remote though - can see a lot of accidental fogging happening here.

[Drew Bedo]

I think the inventor is trying to make a profit, it has nothing to do with perfection or 'improvement' over existing methods.

It's a toy.

I agree.

there seems to be a desire or need on the part of some to figure out ways to use a smart phone to do a mediocre to poor job that has already been done much better by a dedicated instrument. Light meter apps may be one. Why not a shutter tester? I have even seen a mount to put a smart phone onto a rifle . . .as a gun site!

[Steve Sherman]

Pretty much agree with you there, however if it gets more people interested in traditional printing and film then it could be a good thing.

Another point of view.

Got some pretty serious equipment in my D room including three large film enlargers, but also have 5 grandchildren, the two oldest constantly taking pix with mine or their parent's I phones. I believe I will purchase this unit in the hopes of igniting the wet process fever in one or two of them. Will give it to the group of them with the understanding that it is for their use only in my darkroom, again with the hope their interest is heightened because of ownership and the magic of an emerging image !

Relatively speaking I don't see much difference than any parent giving a child a developing kit back in the 60's / 70's and them going on to become a serious photographer, analog or otherwise.

2 cents

[Gadfly_1971]

I agree.

there seems to be a desire or need on the part of some to figure out ways to use a smart phone to do a mediocre to poor job that has already been done much better by a dedicated instrument. Light meter apps may be one. Why not a shutter tester? I have even seen a mount to put a smart phone onto a rifle . . .as a gun site!

It's making the best of a device you're already likely to have on hand. I have dedicated light meters and similar bits of kit, but sometimes something gets forgotten or lost (or left at home in order to run with minimal kit). It's nice to know that I have a passable back-up on hand should I need it. The one thing my phone has replaced completely is a viewing card. Depending on your specific device, there are several "viewfinder" apps available that are really quite good.

And yes, I also have a shutter tester app that's good in a pinch.

[Drew Bedo]

The ultimate fall-back I guess would be the "Sunny-Sixteen" rule of thumb.

shutter-Tester? How does that work for LF? Is it good enough for practical use in the field?

[cuypers1807]

I have made 8x10 prints from my iPad by putting it in my 4x5 enlarger. The only problem is that when you focus perfectly you see the grid of the pixels in the print. I set up a slide show of a bunch of dark red blank screens followed by the image I wanted to print so I could start it and then place it in the enlarger and have paper ready. Can't remember off the top of my head how long exposures were but I think they were reasonable.

[Gadfly_1971]

The ultimate fall-back I guess would be the "Sunny-Sixteen" rule of thumb.

shutter-Tester? How does that work for LF? Is it good enough for practical use in the field?

The point being is that your smart phone is a just a very portable computer (that happens to make phone calls and has a camera) it's a tool, no different than any other.

The shutter tester uses the mic on the phone to record the sound of the shutter opening and closing (it gives you a 3 second window to trigger the shutter). One nice little feature is that it'll help you build a chart that you could use when shooting so that you can figure your exposure (taking the actual shutter speed into account). You could use it the field if you needed to. I'm sure it's not super accurate but it gets the job done.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I have made 8x10 prints from my iPad by putting it in my 4x5 enlarger.

I'm not smart enough to envision what you did. Got any illustrations?
.

[cuypers1807]

I think so.... Let me look.

[cuypers1807]

Ok... found some photos.
First, here is a photo of the iPad in the enlarger. The iPad air fits in place of a negative holder:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7681/17203637896_3b7a175394_z.jpg

I prepped the photo by making it a negative and surrounding it with a dark red border to reduce the chance of fogging the paper.
(This is a scan of an 8x10 tintype)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8725/17230127095_ff873c821e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sfyUuP)

I then set up a slide show of a number of ultra dark red frames (the iPad put off light even when showing black) with the negative at the end giving me time to pull out a sheet of paper and move it into position.
Since it was a variable contrast enlarger, I did not own below the lens contrast filters so I just adjusted the contrast of the negative in photoshop until it looked reasonable.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7643/17228574892_1cdd60cd51_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sfqX5G)


The biggest problem is the iPad's pixel grid being visible on prints. Here is a close up of the print:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/16609949073_f2653090df_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/riLkbi)

I experimented with trying to defocus the print just enough to obscure the grid while trying to maintain a relatively sharp print and it was hit or miss.

Someone else asked if contact prints were possible with an iPad. My attempts were all very soft. Perhaps if you had the right subject the effect would be acceptable. Fogging is also a real problem as I said before the iPad gives off light even when the screen is set to display black. Hope this helps.

[StoneNYC]

Was this an iPad 1 or the iPad with Retina Screen?

[Tin Can]

I think so.... Let me look.

This is great stuff, wonderful documentation. I'm glad somebody tried it.

Thanks for sharing!

[Jac@stafford.net]

I am absolutely gobsmacked!
Thank you so very much!

[cuypers1807]

Was this an iPad 1 or the iPad with Retina Screen?

iPad air with retina.

[cuypers1807]

If I had been really clever, I could have added the filters to the negative in Photoshop I suppose. The print in my post might also be on a graded (2) RC paper instead of MC. I can't remember. I ceased my experiments because I couldn't figure a way around the pixel grid showing up in prints.

[cuypers1807]

Sorry for the repeated posts. When I mentioned soft contact prints I wanted to include an example. This was from a digital photo converted to negative.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7644/16607788924_3f88173444_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rizg3m)

[Tin Can]

Sorry for the repeated posts. When I mentioned soft contact prints I wanted to include an example. This was from a digital photo converted to negative.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7644/16607788924_3f88173444_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rizg3m)

That works for me. Perhaps the Super Dooper Retina screen of 2019 will make a better print!

I bet the tiny dancer liked it?

[cuypers1807]

Well... that photo shoot was one of the rare occasions where she was a willing participant. She would probably say she likes it because she is less recognizable.

[Tin Can]

Well... that photo shoot was one of the rare occasions where she was a willing participant. She would probably say she likes it because she is less recognizable.

We all know how difficult Stars are. Save it for eternity. :)

[Drew Bedo]

This all sounds a bit like scratching my right ear with my left hand while wearing gloves

[Drew Bedo]

I have been away and off the grid for a few days. This poped into my head while watching the sun come up on day:

Why not make an adapter to mount a cell phone onto a Polaroid 110B at the focal plane as the image capture sensor?