Another tip re: the op's question... Look for an enlarger with a sloping column (like an omega d2) as you'll need a bit of run with your rise in order to work with paper widths over 40" (even big Durst enlargers need to be kludged to deal with this problem). The turret on the omega baseboard allows you to spin the head 180 degrees and cantilever it out over your bench. A big piece of MDF (heavy but flat) makes a good baseboard to project onto. Place your neg. in a glass carrier and give it a go. Before long you'll be fine printin' those neg's on a single piece of paper (look mom, no scotch tape).
With this degree of magnification you'd need a specialized enlarging lens like a Rodagon G. The enlarger would have to be exceptionally stiff and well leveled. You'd need a fairly strong light source,
and still, at the end, the print would be basically mush if one gets close to it. This is like making
a billboard. But with the right film and developer choice, there are obviously a number of people who
have made compelling images this way.
Beseler 23-series enlargers have a tilting head that can be used for wall projection/enlarging.
I'd advise against horizontal enlargement. Hanging your paper from a wall introduces a whole host of new problems you do not want to get involved in.
With a Rodenstock G or the metal barreled nikkor 63mm 2.8 you will get excellent results. In fact so excellent that photo dorks from near and far will rush in to speculate whether or not it qualifies as a "fine print" or merely a "work print". Regardless, victory will be yours as making a mural sized print is often something that most photo dorks just dream about out loud on forums such as this.
I'd advise against horizontal enlargement. Hanging your paper from a wall introduces a whole host of new problems you do not want to get involved in.
With a Rodenstock G or the metal barreled nikkor 63mm 2.8 you will get excellent results. In fact so excellent that photo dorks from near and far will rush in to speculate whether or not it qualifies as a "fine print" or merely a "work print". Regardless, victory will be yours as making a mural sized print is often something that most photo dorks just dream about out loud on forums such as this.
I've yet to see a compelling mural print of mush.
frotog, could you elaborate a bit more on the problems that you had to face when hanging a piece of paper from a wall? The pics below show what I did and, yes, it was done with a Rodagon-G (50mm @f4-5,6) and, yes, the image basically consists of ultra-sharp grain even at the very edges (from a 400 ASA Agfa 35mm colour negative) and, yes, handling the paper and taping it to the wall requires some effort, but...
Last edited by darkroom_rookie; 01-16-2012 at 04:30 PM.
Frotog is correct about the vertical enlarger column problem.
It limits the width of your print size.
I had one of those blunderbuss Durst 138's.
Sold that 150 pound tank and its stack of condensers (one stack for each film format).
Replaced it with a homemade unit from a modified 5x7 monorail camera.
Made the same mistake... a vertical column...
I replaced that with a 4x5 Beseler bolted to the wall.
The counter below it has slide-out shelves at various levels.
While not "mural size", I can enlarge to 32 x 48" easily.
A couple of years ago I wall projected 8x20 negatives using my 8x20 camera.
The easel was a sheet of plywood covered with 26 gauge painted metal.
Buy the painted metal from any sheet metal (HVAC) contractor.
The metal is steel, and magnets really like that stuff...
I made a series of magnetic ledges and magnetic knobs to hold the paper.
I used whiteboard markers to sketch out paper placement on the easel.
Wall projection is not fuss-free, but it can be done.
Adv Reply
Originally Posted by BobD
