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Thread: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

  1. #1
    sepiareverb's Avatar
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    Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    I've exhausted my ideas, hoping someone has some more intelligent insights for me.

    LPL 4500, VC enlarger.

    I have a sharp image 7/8 of the way across the frame (side to side) then a dramatic out of focus end of the image. This happens across lenses.

    1) I tweaked the lens alignment with the adjustment screws- it reads level with my laser unit.

    2) I've shimmed the easel, doesn't fix it.

    3) I've shimmed the negative stage with tape or card, doesn't fix it.

    4) Tried using glass and glassless neg carriers- no difference.

    I've printed with this machine for five years with zero alignment troubles. It hasn't moved, been dropped, or whacked. I usually spend a few months printing 810 size proofs, then a month or so printing 1114 and 1620 final prints. This started suddenly with one negative about two months ago, after I'd printed about 15 negs to 1620 over a two weeks. I called Omega and KHB, was given the alignment procedures by KHB which fixed it for a few negatives at 1620. Went back to 810's and all seemed ok. Tried to return to 1620's today and cannot get anything sharp all the way across.

    Any suggestions??

    I guess I'm going out to shoot today instead.

  2. #2
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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    I assume that you are printing 4X5 negatives.

    Have you checked the VC light box to make certain that something has not moved and is partially blocking the light path. Perhaps a VC filter or heat absorbing glass?

  3. #3
    sepiareverb's Avatar
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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    No, these are 35mm negs- but I shall check the box.

  4. #4
    sepiareverb's Avatar
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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    Box appears fine.

  5. #5
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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    Glass, or glassless negative holder?

  6. #6
    sepiareverb's Avatar
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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    Both.

    I even swapped the masking stage out for the regular one- no change.

  7. #7
    wfwhitaker
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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    If your system works OK for 8x10 enlargements, but not for 16x20's, it might suggest a problem with lens coverage. Has your lens been dropped or whacked or damaged in any way?

    Does the problem only occur with 35mm negatives? Have you tried changing formats to see if the problem continues?

  8. #8

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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    With my LPL 4500, the only way to print 35mm negatives is to invert the lensboard before putting in the enlarger lens.

  9. #9
    sepiareverb's Avatar
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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    Thanks for the input. Multiple lenses show this, and XPAN negs show this too. Yes, the 50's, 63 and 80mm lenses are all on reversed boards.

    Well I didn't go shoot. I broke the whole thing down and started with the baseboard to neg. stage; shimmed my column with two sheets of bond paper, retightened, and got it perfect with the laser thing. Two bolts were a little loose when I started. Then the lens stage. I backed the adjustment screws all the way out, put in a lens and aligned with the laser thing. Again, got it perfect. Lowered the head to 810 print height, then back up to 1620 print height and it stayed aligned. Managed to get through two negatives even though I started about two hours later than usual.

    My confusion is still that one-sided OOF. I've always seen both sides out if it is that visible. (the Beseler 45 was my previous enlarger, lots of practice aligning that) Never perfect all the way across save one strip along the side. I might print again on Friday, if not, then Monday. My fingers are crossed that this will hold.

    Thanks again for your suggestions, and please keep them coming! I'm still confused by this one.

  10. #10

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    Re: Utterly Confounding Alignment Problem

    This sounds infuriating - I am at a loss at what could be causing the problem. I hope you will be able to solve it.

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