contact printing plates

[Justin Cormack]

Looking at my slightly random selection of contact printing frames, I think one of them might be designed for plates - but I am not sure. One says "for film" on the back. Was it simply the case that ones for plates were just exactly the size to hold the glass? or did it fit under the front glass? I have never seen a half plate frames for sale, but on the other hand the non standard size ones I have seem pretty random.

The thing is I would like a frame for printing half plate glass plates and wonder if I will find one in a reasonable timescale. Cant stick a plate under the glass in any of my frames - too tight.

 

[reellis67]

I've got some 5x7 plates that fit just right into a 5x7 contact frame if I remove the glass that goes with the frame. I was going to print some this weekend by putting the plate with the emulsion side facing the pressure plate against a sheet of 5x7 MGWT, but I too would love to know how it was done in the past.

- Randy

 

[Ole]

I've got both types - for film, and for glass. I've contact printed 9x12cm glass plates in a 9x12cm plate frame, and it works really well.

What size are your half-plates? I only use "metric" size plates, so I have some spare frames for those other sizes...

 

[Justin Cormack]

I've got both types - for film, and for glass. I've contact printed 9x12cm glass plates in a 9x12cm plate frame, and it works really well.

What size are your half-plates? I only use "metric" size plates, so I have some spare frames for those other sizes...

They are 4.75x6.5 inches - fall right through the front of

 

[Ole]

I'll check in the morning, but I think I have an old one I won't be using. Just a little bit smaller than 5x7", right?

 

[Jerevan]

12 x 16.5 cm would be about it in metrics.

 

[Justin Cormack]

I'll check in the morning, but I think I have an old one I won't be using. Just a little bit smaller than 5x7", right?

Yes thats the one. Half and quarter plate are pretty common in England, much the most common plate sizes in early equipment. No idea why the contact printing frames are so rare given that...

 

[Ole]

Found it!

Yes, I have one. You can have it; I have enough with 6.5x9, 9x12, 13x18, 5x7", 18x24 and 8x10"... Anyone need a full-plate one?

 

[Jerevan]

Well, Ole, as a matter of fact I am on the look-out for one... I'll send you a pm.