Big roll, and big prints

darkosaric · Oct 9, 2017

So,

My wife wanted to have one big print in our living room, and last weekend I just made my first print bigger than 50x60cm.
I have roll of Fomaspeed that is 1,08 meter wide and 10 meters long, so for start my print is around 65x95 cm. Later I will try 1x1,5 meter.

Shoot was taken with old Elmar 5cm f3,5 - but is shows small amount of grain nevertheless, even in close inspection (Kodak TP ).

Developer and fixer I did with a sponge, since I don't have so big trays.
Anybody has better idea in a lack of big trays?

Thanks,

FerruB · Oct 9, 2017

Nice result, congratulations!
I am interested in the process because I am in a similar situation: my wife asking for bigger prints! I usually print up to 16x12 using 20x16 trays. So technically I can print up to 20x16. However I would like to try 20x24 or larger...but I am not sure about the process. It seems you got a pretty homogeneous development with a sponge, did you use very diluted developer? Can you please give me some details about the process? Why do you want to change?
Cheers
Ferru

rpavich · Oct 9, 2017

Wow nice! You make me want to see if I can do this too.

AgX · Oct 9, 2017

Large prints from a certain size onwards are better not processed in trays of the print format, but in trays fitting the size of the print rolled over its short side.
Processing in such tray could be done by hand but there is also was on offer a dedicated roller insert.
Such trays could be improvised by using gutter profiles.

darkosaric · Oct 9, 2017

I developed in normal concentration: 1+9 in Ilford PQ developer, and 1+9 for the fixer. And in one print one liter is gone, pretty expensive, and since all is done on the floor (in my darkroom) - floor was dirty, and I needed to make is clean (ugly and time consuming).
That is why I am looking for alternatives.

tedr1 · Oct 9, 2017

In the bathtub?

AgX · Oct 9, 2017

The bathtub would need more bath volume than a long tray for rolled processing, it though could be used for sponge processing. But baths would go down the drain.

removed account4 · Oct 9, 2017

i have seen and heard people using wallpaper troughs and you would see saw the print in it ...
like old fashioned film processing

AgX · Oct 10, 2017

That is what I was hinting at.

chris77 · Oct 10, 2017

build your tray working tables. i tried a lot, and it can be done, depends on your skill. but it gets so much better when you make the space to do it right.

darkosaric · Oct 10, 2017

chris77 said:
build your tray working tables. i tried a lot, and it can be done, depends on your skill. but it gets so much better when you make the space to do it right.

Wow, jealous ! You have a lot of space, my darkroom is 8 sq meters only.

FujiLove · Oct 10, 2017

darkosaric said:
So,

My wife wanted to have one big print in our living room, and last weekend I just made my first print bigger than 50x60cm.
I have roll of Fomaspeed that is 1,08 meter wide and 10 meters long, so for start my print is around 65x95 cm. Later I will try 1x1,5 meter.

Shoot was taken with old Elmar 5cm f3,5 - but is shows small amount of grain nevertheless, even in close inspection (Kodak TP ).

Developer and fixer I did with a sponge, since I don't have so big trays.
Anybody has better idea in a lack of big trays?

Thanks,

I'd really love to create some big prints to hang on our stairs. How did you manage the enlargement? Did you tape the paper to a wall and project horizontally?

bunip · Oct 10, 2017

Hi,
I usually use a large DIY tank, you can build it your own with 30 euro and print up to 1x1,5 m.
Take a look at this: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/extra-large-print-drum.146399/#post-1920608
If you need more informations please ask.
Since I used this tank I never missed big trays (no room for big trays).

darkosaric · Oct 10, 2017

Thanks bunip! This is what I will definitely try.

bunip · Oct 10, 2017

I'm sure you'll love it and will run through your 10m roll very fast.
kind regards,
paolo

AgX · Oct 10, 2017

An interesting alternative to the open gutter tray. I like especially the transparency.
However, my sample would wobble, as in Germany paint bucket lids are oval....

But how did you seal the movable lid, as I do not understand at all your sink plaste idea.

chris77 · Oct 10, 2017

darkosaric said:
Wow, jealous ! You have a lot of space, my darkroom is 8 sq meters only.

in this case you can build one single tray. and attach a pipe underneath. put paper in, flush with dev, drain to container underneath/bucket, close pipe, stop, flush, fix, etc. works great, using a few "buckets" under a tray and a pipe to open/close..

bunip · Oct 10, 2017

Sink plaste:
Here in Italy when you put a stainless steel sink on a kitchen you open a hole in the surface where you'll put the sink on, then you apply a sealing plaste all around the hole where the sink border will lay and put the sink on it.
here an example https://www.amazon.it/Strisce-Sigillante-Lavelli-Incasso-Lunghezza/dp/B018EGSU6C

AgX · Oct 10, 2017

Never seen such. At least as far as I know here we use a sticky paste or so. I shall have a look for such. Anyway your processing tube depends on a decent sealing. At least enough to use it in a bath tub.

Any kind of gutter tray also will induce some spilling. Thus the ground should be covered with thick pvc foil with rims, so that one easily can wipe it.

bunip · Oct 10, 2017

Yes it is a sticky paste and you buy it in tape shape, but it's a paste.

jerrybro · Oct 20, 2017

I like the print. The idea of a traditional print from film shot with a vintage lens of a subject taking a selfie with a cellphone appeals to me. Don't tell anyone, see who notices.

Big roll, and big prints

darkosaric

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