Buying paper in a roll... Anyone do this?

menglert · Aug 26, 2006

I'm considering buying a roll of b&w paper so I can cut the sizes I'd like to work with (8x24, 13x36...some 8x10...ect). Is there anyone else out there that does this? If so, what suggestions do you have, or other general opinions?

I was thinking if I used a very dim safe light (LED) I may be able to provide enough time to cut the pieces I need in the darkroom, but I'm not sure because I never tried this before.

Thanks,
Martin

bart Nadeau · Aug 26, 2006

No problem, I used to do it all the time. I set up my Thomas safelight in the garage, waited for night, set up a big folding table with a 42 inch Rotatrim. I bought 36 inch wide rolls of rebranded Iford (from Freestyle?) and wacked it down to 24 x 36 and the other sized I need. It helps to get a paper roll holder - like the butcher keeps his roll of paper on - if you are going to do this very often.

Tom Hoskinson · Aug 26, 2006

I cut both film and paper in my darkroom - no safelight - with a RotoTrim. I tape width and length guides to the cutting board as needed.

pandino · Aug 27, 2006

I picked up a 700' roll of 3.5" MGIV RC for pennies, so I do this on a regular basis. I use it primarily for 3 1/2" x 5" proofs, but have also made up to 20" long prints from 4x5 negs. A 5" or 8" roll would be much more useful.

I cut about 50 pcs at a time with an OC filter at about 6-8' and haven't had any problems with fogging. I place the reel on a broom handle placed on the backs of two chairs so it unwinds right up to my paper cutter. I cover the reel if I need to pause for any amount of time.

I got a bunch of 5" aero film on a spool from a very kind APUGer and have tried to do the same thing, sans safelight. Believe me, it's a heck of a lot easier to cut the paper!

menglert · Aug 27, 2006

Thanks for the replies... Looks like a good way to go.

John Bartley · Aug 27, 2006

pandino said:
I got a bunch of 5" aero film on a spool from a very kind APUGer and have tried to do the same thing, sans safelight. Believe me, it's a heck of a lot easier to cut the paper!

Here's my film cutting rig :

Dead Link Removed

I'm cutting 9-1/2" PlusXAero with this rig with no trouble in (obviously) complete darkness.

I have two rolls of the new "Lodima" paper on order at M&P, so I'm looking forward to not wasting it while I learn to cut it .

note : the web page I've given you is only available daytime. (I turn my computer off at night)

cheers

Roger Hicks · Aug 27, 2006

menglert said:
I'm considering buying a roll of b&w paper so I can cut the sizes I'd like to work with (8x24, 13x36...some 8x10...ect). Is there anyone else out there that does this? If so, what suggestions do you have, or other general opinions?
Martin

I've not done this for many years, but when I did, I found the curl of the paper somewhat obtrusive: it didn't like staying in the trays.

But that was a long time ago and modern papers may be a lot better. Besides, nowadays I use Nova tanks.

Safelighting for paper ain't a problem, especially red. We tested some Ilford paper a while back with two Paterson red lights, one each side, less than a foot away from the paper, and didn't get any fogging in half an hour.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

Phillip P. Dimor · Aug 27, 2006

I use a plastic milk crate and a wooden dowel to hold the roll of paper. The milk crate with roll is suspended and able to roll freely and the entire assembly is on it's side so it can be fed through a rotary paper cutter. I used a heavy-duty magnet bar as a 'stop' so I could just slice 7" long strips of 5" wide paper. It worked really well.

If you cut the paper and place the curling sheets against each other like ) ( in a bag,
they'll eventually flatten themselves out. Or you could use a weight.

Mike A · Aug 27, 2006

I was cutting rolls of Kentmere from Freeestyle and like Roger I found the curl to be to much of a hinderance, I nearly tore out my hair trying to use it fo contact printing.

Mike

Nick Zentena · Aug 27, 2006

B&W paper should be easy. For colour I cut the paper in advance usually at least 30 sheets but often 50 sheets. I put them in a black paper bag and then in a paper box. No curl for the papers I've used.

Kodak Supra and a Fuji paper.

Remember all papers start out on a roll. Right?

Kino · Aug 27, 2006

John Bartley said:
Here's my film cutting rig :

Dead Link Removed

John,

Thanks! I have that exact same cutter and have been playing with ideas for doing same! Thanks for sharing!

Frank W.

John Bartley · Aug 27, 2006

Kino said:
John,

Thanks! I have that exact same cutter and have been playing with ideas for doing same! Thanks for sharing!

Frank W.

You're very welcome Frank. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me and I will gladly share what little I've learned.

cheers

blokeman · Aug 27, 2006

buying paper in a roll

I've always done this, so much cheaper. I don't have any fancy cutters or such, instead I have a friend help, the curl is annoying but that small annoyance is worth the savings. A pre-dev water bath can help although that will dilute the developer bath over time, otherwise it's hold the paper under using gloves.
The per-square-metre price is much much lower using rolls. I've searched online for the rolls still available in USA but have so far not found much. Could someone tell me if Galerie is still available in rolls?
Thanks.

srs5694 · Aug 28, 2006

I picked up an 8-inch-by-something-huge roll of color paper quite cheaply on eBay, so I've been doing this. I reasoned it'd be a hassle to do it on an as-needed basis, so I pull the roll out of the freezer and cut off a hundred sheets at a time. Since this is color paper, I do it in complete darkness; I just need to mark out the appropriate lengths with tape on my paper cutter so I can do it by feel.

Concerning curl, it's getting worse as I near the end of the roll, but I find that rolling the individual sheets in the direction opposite the curl cancels out the curl -- at least, close enough that it doesn't cause any major problems.

Simon R Galley · Aug 31, 2006

Dear Blokeman,

GALERIE is not available in rolls : for all ILFORD Photo product availability ( narrow and wide rolls included ) go to ILFORDPhoto.com / Product availability / and its a PDF :

MULTIGRADE Express is a special product for photofinishers, much faster and with wax in the top coat to go through the high speed processing machines so do not use it in dishes.

Remember very few retailers will hold narrow or wide rolls in stock, only wholesalers and big outfits like freestyle and CALUMET in the USA and SILVERPRINT in the UK, but
if your local retailer holds an account with Wynit ( our distributor in the USA ) they should be able to special order in anything you want : WARNING : Some roll products have MOQ's ( minimum order quantities ).

When (any) paper is rolled it gets something called memory curl, the thicker the paper and the nearer the core, the stronger the memory curl, but it should not be a problem, read up how the APUGGERS who print using rolls overcome it.

Kind Regards

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

Buying paper in a roll... Anyone do this?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency