Hacking 8x10 and 11x14 enlarger LED head

[Tin Can]

Evan will have to answer that.

My light source is very powerful and now uses 3 layers of diffusion plastic and gradually I moved the light farther away.

It's all experimentation. I can also dim my light source.

I like 30 to 60 second exposures, even 120 seconds depending.

I bought one of the displays for my Omega F. It seems to light fine, but the light source is divided into many small segments resulting in a pattern clearly visible in the projected image when the source is directly above the neg carrier. I have considered moving the source away from the negative and/or using diffusion but I am concerned about losing light intensity. How did you solve this?

[photoevangelist]

This is really cool, Randy!

[Tin Can]

Thanks, but my reality is shooting 5x7 in the field and enlarging on 5x7 enlarger. In studio I shoot mainly 11x14 and contact print.

I have been doing a lot of experimentation and now it's time to produce some production work for a series. I have 2 plans, probably 2 too many.

I have rejected digital negatives and will farm out any digital printing as my volume historically is too erratic to keep any printer running. Going forward I plan to avoid digital LF work of any kind.

Old ways are the way for me.

This is really cool, Randy!

[photoevangelist]

I've got lots of plans too. I don't see it being a bad thing, Randy. When I shot digital, I didn't have much of a passion or vision for my work.

I'm stuck printing 4x5 until my Focal Point glass carrier gets here. I'll be glad to do some 5x7 printing! I just hope my lighting source is even on my Zone VI bulbs. I wish I had the ability to enlarge my 8x10 x-ray portraits. Perhaps I'll take your wisdom here to make an 8x10 LED head to fit on top of the Zone VI negative stage - a project for a later date!

[photoevangelist]

By the way, what do you enlarge your 5x7 negative to? It seems like 16.5 x 23 would be around the largest I'd print on a 20x24 getting the proportions correct.

[evan clarke]

Sorry, I fell asleep on this thread. Am using a 300mm Rodenstock and have one thin sheet of opal plexiglass on top of a sheet of regular glass which rests on a sheet of non glare framing glass which is part of the box, the neg goes between them.
I use f stop timers and the times are almost identical to my 4x5 LPL. The first print I made was good on the second sheet.

[photoevangelist]

I'd love to see a photograph of your modification, Evan.

[Tin Can]

I generally put whatever fits on 11x14 or 12x20. Seldom do 20x24, not enough storage space. I even crop...

By the way, what do you enlarge your 5x7 negative to? It seems like 16.5 x 23 would be around the largest I'd print on a 20x24 getting the proportions correct.

[photoevangelist]

Do you think this would work??
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6W-9W-12W-15...item3a84f084c8

[photoevangelist]

Oh those just miss the 8x10 coverage needed.

Though this one might work:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Highpower-LE...item1e8b1cd97d

What would potential problems be with this as a light source for an 8x10 head?