Super-sized contacts/proofs - how to do it?

[gamincurieux]

I would not do every shot on the roll. I average 3 or 4 usable shots per roll, so what I thought was yes to perhaps use pnance's method above, but only do the usable shots, plus a couple more. Say, 6 images on an 8x10. I'll still have the regular contact sheet to refer to, but I always wanted to see the select few just a little bigger and apart from the rest of the roll. A contact sheet of the primary edit, if you will, but a little larger than normal. Should be relatively quick to do with the RH Designs analyzer pro. In any case I'll be trying something similar soon, I have a Durst Comask coming in the post, with its 4 windows I'll be trying to get 4 images on a sheet of 8x10. Mind you, I didn't really have this in mind when I bought it. Anyway, shall see how it goes. Well, call me mad, but aren't we all considered to be something like mad professors in these dark rooms of ours that hardly anybody these days understands? Paul ;)

[Joe VanCleave]

If the idea is to find a quick way to get proof prints, it sounds like a Beseller Negatrans would speed up the process. And instead of an enlarged contact sheet, why not just do small proof prints of each negative? Pick a negative whose density is mid-range within all the images on the roll, find the (roughly) optimal f/stop and exposure time for that one image's print, then run them all at one setting, quick and dirty as they say. Start with 8"x10" paper, cut them in half and print full-frame on 5"x8". You can put the exposed proof prints back into a light-tight envelop after exposure, then develop them all in one batch in an oversized tray (like for 11"x14") after all the images have been exposed, thus saving lotsa time.

When you get experienced with this method, you can tweak individual negatives "on the fly" for density differences, for instance adding or subtracting exposure time, to get a proof print that's "closer" to optimal.

There's also the question of "what's wrong with an 8"x10" contact proof sheet of the whole roll?" since this method has served photographers for generations.

~Joe

[jgjbowen]

Buy a very large camera (20x24) and make contact prints, one image at a time.

John Powers

LOL

[gamincurieux]

now I get it....

[EASmithV]

LOL

lolol

[df cardwell]

You can make a proofing enlarger pretty easily, or buy one from an outfit like Glenview:
http://www.glennview.com/810.htm

[WarEaglemtn]

They are projection proofs. You can do 35mm, 9 frames at a time using a 4x5 enlarger. A glass negative carrier is needed. Align the 9 frames in the carrier, insert it in the enlarger and project them onto your paper of whatever size you want. Look good and works well. Very easy to do.

If you want a full roll of 35mm film done at one time you will need an 8x10 to 10x10 enlarger to do so.

Other than aligning the negatives in the glass carrier it is no different than making a normal enlargement from a negative. Use a glass carrier to make sure the negatives are flat. If not the curvature of some will make it impossible to get a sharp image of the negative.

[rcam72]

I'm a little late to the party but I just came across this in B and H's used section:

Saunders 8x10" Professional Multi-Print Enlarging Easel Mfr # 155031

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800607900-USE/Saunders_155031_8x10_Professional_Multi_Print_Enla rging.html

"With this easel, you can produce multiple images on a single sheet of 8x10" paper. It's light-tight so focusing, cropping, or changing negatives or filter settings are easily done under a dim white light (25W max). Comes with masks for making two 5x7", four 4x5", four 31/2x5", eight 21/2x31/2"(wallet-size) prints (all with borders). Leave the mask off to print a single 8x10". Click-stop control knobs position the paper on a moving carriage for each consecutive exposure.

• Multiple prints on a single sheet without moving the easel
• Easel remains stationary while paper carrier moves
• Accepts standard 8x10" paper and comes complete with a full set of light-tight hinged cup masks
• Cups are recessed to the focal plane to permit accurate focusing withthe paper in the easel
• Prints (8) wallets, (4) 31/2x5", (2) 5x7", (1) 8x10" all with borders "

It sounds like something the OP was looking for.

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

I'm a little late to the party but I just came across this in B and H's used section:

Saunders 8x10" Professional Multi-Print Enlarging Easel Mfr # 155031

This is looking like the kind of setup school photographers would have used to make these sheets where you had one 5x7, a few 3x4, and a load of 2x3 or some similar combination.

I always hated cutting all these bloody pictures!

[Greg Davis]

I used one of these as a studio's darkroom tech to make wallet size prints. 8 per sheet, and 2 5x7's per sheet. They work well for quick multi-printing, but I have never tried using one to make test prints of varying exposure, nor as a means of making enlarged contacts. It would take forever to make enlarged contacts using one, in fact.

[rcam72]

Could you scan the negatives? That's what I do when I want a better look at what I'm working with. I have an Epson 4490 that allows for the scanning of selected negatives and not the whole roll. Then I'll look it over on the monitor to decide if it is something I want to work with in the darkroom. Printing super-size proofs should be no problem once the image is in your computer.

Raul

[John R.]

It's easy to make enlarged proof sheets of any size if you use a neg carrier designed to hold multiple strips. One example that I have used for many years is a Saunders 18 frame sliding carrier. Mine is used in a Omega 4x5 enlarger with a cold light head. The carrier holds six short film strips that are made up of three frames each or it will hold 3 long strips that are made up of six frames each. You can just use one strip of anywhere from one frame up to six frames if you want. You would have to mask off the rest of the carrier in a situation like that. The Saunders carrier is all aluminum and hinged. It has an acrylic type base plate that is designed to fit a particular enlarger design. This carrier can print a gang of 3 strips at once (Nine 35 mm frames) with a 4x5 enlarger. Then you just slide the carrier to either side to print the other 3 strips (nine frames). I used this carrier for years in my commercial lab. It is very well made and if you want to do enlarged 35mm proofs with a 4x5 enlarger you can't be this carrier. It is fast and easy to use. All frames and strips perfectly align with no fuss which results in completely professional enlarged 35mm proofs.

[thedancefloor]

Anybody know of a lab, preferably in Canada, that will make super proofs? And is it possible for them to correct for the density of a few frames here and there?

[Newt_on_Swings]

You can make a proofing enlarger pretty easily, or buy one from an outfit like Glenview:
http://www.glennview.com/810.htm

scrolling down page... sweet jebus its huge!

11X14 DEVERE CONDENSERS :eek::eek::eek:

[Mike Wilde]

Like John R says a few posts above. I have sparingly used carrier that lets me print 3 rows of 6 frames of 35mm ( 3 rows of 3 frames at a time) in a 4x5 enlarger. It is of limited use to me, as I store my 35mm negs in rows of 5, 7 rows to a page in plastic 'print file' pages. It is handy for the occasional arty print. One of my upcoming postcard exchage images, of a bunch of head shots printed on the same page was done with this carrier.

[WarEaglemtn]

Contact prints are the same size as the negative you use. Want bigger ones, shoot with a bigger camera.

Enlarged projection proofs are not contact prints. They are enlarged by projecting negatives on the paper. A glass 4x5 negative holder will do 9 frames(35mm film) on 8x10 paper just fine. Each about the size of a wallet print.

In digital files there is no such thing as a contact print no matter how much the pixelographers try to tell you it is.

[sharperstill]

PhotoTechnica here in Sydney used to offer "roll proofs". A long piece of paper with images about 3"x4" on it. They went bust. Maybe Vision Image Lab (now in Redfern) do it?

[Reinhold]

I'm mostly a medium format and large format guy.
But every once in a while my Nikon comes into play and I want proofs that are big enough to actually see.
Back in 1990 I made a carrier for my 4x5 Beseler to enlarge 3 strip of 3 negatives onto a sheet of 8x10 paper.

I resurrected the idea, and put the Mark II version in the classified section.
Take a look...
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum379/99255-enlarged-35mm-proof-system.html

Reinhold
www.Re-inventedPhotoEquip.com
www.classicBWphoto.com

[jnanian]

that is the coolest !
and your viewing things are beautiful enough to use as a frame :)

john

ps. great website with your reinvented "stuff"



I'm mostly a medium format and large format guy.
But every once in a while my Nikon comes into play and I want proofs that are big enough to actually see.
Back in 1990 I made a carrier for my 4x5 Beseler to enlarge 3 strip of 3 negatives onto a sheet of 8x10 paper.

I resurrected the idea, and put the Mark II version in the classified section.
Take a look...
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum379/99255-enlarged-35mm-proof-system.html

Reinhold
www.Re-inventedPhotoEquip.com
www.classicBWphoto.com

[Reinhold]

I've figured out how to make the Multi 35 carrier fit Beseler and Omega D series enlargers.
All it takes is relocating a few screws...
Take a look:
http://re-inventedphotoequip.com/Site/Multi%2035%20Details.html

Reinhold

www.Re-inventedPhotoEquip.com
www.classicBWphoto.com