Exactly. 4×5 is ~1/16″ smaller in each dimension than nominal. You should wind up with a ⅛″ waste piece, which the Dahl
should be more than capable of handling.* Here's how I do it:
- Cut 1 sheet at a time, beginning by making a 4-15/16″ wide piece and a 5-1/16″ wide piece for each sheet. The 5-1/16″ is the one that falls off the cutter bed.
- Set the 4-15/16″ pieces aside. Trim ⅛″ from each of the wider pieces.
- Reset the guide. Cut each piece so you get a 3-15/16″ piece and a 4-1/16″ piece.
- Set aside the narrower pieces and trim ⅛″ from each of the wider ones.
I always place the round corner against the fixed top guide and the adjustable guide. If in doubt, hold the film in place with your (clean) hand — although, in my experience, the clamp does just fine. By the way, if you load the film holders with the round corner in the same position that you would put the notches on conventional film, you'll alway know which side was facing the camera. If you're using Ektascan this doesn't matter, but it's useful on the double-emulsion stuff.
I do not find that the speed at which I make the cut has any affect, good or ill.
*Is it possible your cutter is defective?
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