Help: Printing with Graflarger on 12x16 Paper

[tenderobject]

Hi guys,

I just started printing 4x5.. I used my Graflarger and Componon 150mm..
I noticed that the corners are not well exposed. I have to burn the corners to compensate.
I'm not sure if my setup is wrong or there is a problem with the Graflarger and lens combo.
Is this normal with Graflarger? Any advice?

Thank you!

[Tim Meisburger]

Might be the lens? I have not had that problem, but the largest I have printed is 11x14.

[tenderobject]

Oh.. So i need a longer lens? Yikes!
I'll test 11x14 next time.. But the 12x16 is quite addicting! I love the size!

Might be the lens? I have not had that problem, but the largest I have printed is 11x14.

[tenderobject]

By the way, the enlarger (from lens to floor) height is atleast 3 feet. Does this affects the light as well?

I'll try to research about this problem.

[Tim Meisburger]

No, I don't think it is a problem with the length of the lens. I have a 150mm G-Claron I use with no problem. Do you have a a 150mm or 135mm taking lens you can swap out and try? If that gives the sam result you will know its not the lens. In that case, I'm not sure. Are you stopping down to F11?

[Tim Meisburger]

Well, for that size enlargement the light in the corners is traveling significantly farther than that in the center, so perhaps that is the problem.

[tenderobject]

I only have 150mm Componon-S enlarging lens

I'm stopping at f/16..

No, I don't think it is a problem with the length of the lens. I have a 150mm G-Claron I use with no problem. Do you have a a 150mm or 135mm taking lens you can swap out and try? If that gives the sam result you will know its not the lens. In that case, I'm not sure. Are you stopping down to F11?

[tenderobject]

Hi Tim,

Do you think there is a simple solution? Or just print smaller? Waaahh i love the 12x16 print!!!

8x10 becomes small to me!

Well, for that size enlargement the light in the corners is traveling significantly farther than that in the center, so perhaps that is the problem.

[Tim Meisburger]

I Don't know. Once the experts in Europe and America wake up I'm sure you will get more helpful answers.

At f16, don't you have really long exposure times? Try f8 and see if that makes a difference, maybe.

11x14 is not much smaller, but I have replaced my cold light with an enlarger bulb (I plugged the original light into a 220v outlet and blew it up!)

[Tim Meisburger]

According to the "Enlarging" article on Wikipedia "The lens is set to its working aperture. Enlarging lenses have an optimum range of apertures which yield a sharp image from corner to corner, often around f8."

So give that a try!