Can I mask a 6x6 negative carrier to 6x4.5? How so?

Markok765 · Nov 18, 2013

Hey guys!

I want to print 645 and my school only has 6x6 negative carriers. whats the best/easiest way to mask it to work?

MattKing · Nov 18, 2013

Is the negative part of a strip of negatives? If so, you probably don't need to worry about it - just crop using the easel.

What type of enlarger and negative stage are you using?

Markok765 · Nov 18, 2013

Not sure what type/negative stage.. It's a 4x5 enlarger however.

hmm you're right about the easel idea. seems the simplest solutions are the best!

wiltw · Nov 18, 2013

You always can take a simple file folder, and trim out a 645 space to serve as a mask to block stray light which might reduce contrast. Then cut down the outer part of the file folder and punch out round holes where the metal pins of the 6x6 carrier would protrude through the file folder. And black out the file folder with black felt marker to cut light transmission to minimums.

I had a 6x6 enlarger as a kid, and did exactly what I described to make a 135 format mask...not enough money in the budget of a 14 year old to buy a 135 format neg carrier!

Bob Marvin · Nov 18, 2013

FWIW I use a 6 X 6 carrier for my 6 X 4.5 negatives without any masking. It's no worse than cropping a 6 X 6 negative to make a vertical or horizontal print.

brucemuir · Nov 18, 2013

Yes you can use the 6x6 but if for some reason that shines too much extraneous light, black matte board works great for custom neg carriers.

dorff · Nov 19, 2013

brucemuir said:
Yes you can use the 6x6 but if for some reason that shines too much extraneous light, black matte board works great for custom neg carriers.

Yes, that will work well. Another possibility is to use a 6x6 frame of fully exposed and developed film, and to cut the 6x4.5 window out, then sandwich that with your negative. Do the final cropping with the easel.

Doremus Scudder · Nov 19, 2013

Just crop on easel.

Your baseboard and easel should be yellow, red or black, which will not reflect any light that your photo paper is sensitive to. I crop 4x5 negs down quite a bit when needed and never have felt the need for masking the negative.

Now, if you have bright white baseboard and easel, you might want to consider it...

Best,

Doremus

RalphLambrecht · Nov 19, 2013

Markok765 said:
Hey guys!

I want to print 645 and my school only has 6x6 negative carriers. whats the best/easiest way to mask it to work?

I was lucky enough to find thin black plastic sheets; only 1mm thick and flat black,which I used to cut myself several masks for my L1200 negative carrier; worked great, but I don't remember where I got the material;it can be easily cut with a carpet knifeinto any shape; also great for making custom dodging tools.

DannL. · Nov 19, 2013

Mat board is a fine material for making a simple negative carrier, if you desire. The example pictured here is one designed from scratch for use in a Leitz Valoy enlarger.

View attachment 77186 View attachment 77187

fotch · Nov 19, 2013

I would not worry about it. If you shoot this format often, you can eventually pick up a used one at a good price.

MattKing · Nov 19, 2013

fotch said:
I would not worry about it. If you shoot this format often, you can eventually pick up a used one at a good price.

Which is one of the reasons I asked what type of enlarger it was for .

Can I mask a 6x6 negative carrier to 6x4.5? How so?

Markok765

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Markok765

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Can I mask a 6x6 negative carrier to 6x4.5? How so?

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