Cutting 5x12 From 16x20 For Korona Banquet

[Mike1234]

I'm thinking of buying a Korona 5x12... if I can raise enough cash or trade items.

Does anyone know if I can get 4 "full" sheets of 5x12 from 1 sheet of 16x20? Also, is the remaining piece large enough to cut 2 "full" sheets of 4x10?

 

[clay nz]

Mike I've done this with 12x20 film for my 5x12, it works fine. I've never had any 16x20 film to play with.

Clayton

 

[Christopher Walrath]

5x4=20. 12 is 4 less than 16. 10x2=20. So, yup.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Or . . . 16x20=320. 5x12=60. 4x10=40. (60x4)+(40x2) 240+80=320. So, yup.

 

[Mike1234]

And you're sure one piece won't be 1/16" (or whatever) too short?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

If you're concerned, get 11x14 and cut it down to 2 5x12s. The size is much easier to come by, and cheaper to boot.

 

[Mike1234]

That's a good idea but if I can cut without any waste that's even better. If

 

[clay nz]

Yes I've cut down 11x14 as well, this was all before 5x12 became readily available. Now I just buy 5x12 precut.

Clayton

 

[Christopher Walrath]

If you can make your cuts EXACT, there will be no overlap/excess/loss. But it has to be EXACT. 4- 5x12's and 2- 4x10's. Imagine your 16x20 in landscape position. You place 4 5x12's in portrait across the top. That spans the twenty inches. Place 2- 4x10's in landscape across the bottom, end to end and this takes up the four inches left over vertically and spans, again, 20 inches.

 

[Mike1234]

Christopher.. yes that's precisely what I'm proposing. I just didn't know if film measurement was slightly off with different sizes which would throw off the sizes of the final cuts.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

And that would be a rub. The sheet would need to be precisely 16x20. Gotcha.

 

[clay nz]

The sheets aren't exact sizes, they're always less.


Clayton

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Sorry. I know that. But for some reason I was under the assumption of actual dimensions rather than mere format. Took mechanical drawing in high school, was very good at it and it has stuck. I hear a dimension, I go with it, even if I know better.

 

[colrehogan]

How do you guys cut film in the dark?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Diane- I have a rotary cutter which has a guide stop. I pre-set the guide stop for one dimension in room light, turn off the lights, then cut the film in that dimension. I put the film away, turn the lights back on, re-set the guide stop for the next cut, then repeat the process.

 

[Mike1234]

I haven't started cutting yet but I'll be using a high quality rotary cutter dedicated to only film. The guides will be permanently taped to the board. This eliminates the need to move the guides and ensures consistency. This is how I cut paper many years ago and it worked quite well.

 

[colrehogan]

I see. I only asked because I have some 12x20 Portra and some 11x14 IR that I'd love to get cut to 5x12. Perhaps you might be willing to try this for me, Scott?

Diane

 

[scootermm]

not to state the obvious or anything....

12x20 with 3 cuts gives you 4 sheets of 5x12 from a single sheet of 12x20.

 

[mark]

Acucut(sp) will create custom Die patterns. The cost was very reasonable and they are great to work with. You can get used die presses for pretty cheap.

I was working with them on making a double 5x7 die to cut 8x10 down. I never had any luck with a high end cutter because of the film base being thick and the film shifting just too much. The project Never came to fruition because I had a serious attack of lackofundacitus after our car broke down. Even then they were very understanding.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I thought about the thing mentioned last night about sheet film being slightly smaller than the format designation. We assumed that the cut would be off slightly because the 16x20 sheets aren't quite 16x20. On the flip side, what size are 5x12 sheets? Presumably not exactly 5x12 either.

 

[clay nz]

On the flip side, what size are 5x12 sheets?

Just measured a sheet, they're 1/16th under both ways.

Clayton

 

[Christopher Walrath]

So one could cut 4- 4 15/16" x 11 15/16" sheets and 2- 3 15/16" x 9 15/16" sheets from one 15 15/16" x 19 15/16" sheet.

 

[Mike1234]

Hah... great news!! Absolutely no waste of film then.