Durst MIVALO, how does it work??

Hi,

I recently invested in a Durst AC1201, and am trying to figure out how this thing works. One thing of interest is that the Femoneg carrier can be used for precision pin registration. I understand that Durst did make a punch for this carrier called MIVALO. I would appreciate any information about how the Durst pin registration system works. Is the Femoneg used to hold the 2 sheets of film together for exposure of the masking film as well as for projection? Does anyone have pictures of the MIVALO punch? Any info much appreciated.

Thanks,
Louie

The MIVALO punch will punch a line of 1.5mm holes in the film edge, spaced, from the left hole, at 19, 32, 51, 76.5, 102, 127.5, 153, 178.5, and 204mm, to allow for different formats in different Durst enlargers. The negative carrier would have a corresponding pin set, called the MIVADAP, to fit the punched film. Your AC1201 enlarger, which I think is similar to my L1200 enlarger, uses the Femoneg 4x5 carrier which has the 127.5mm pin set. To use, attach a leader to the negative and use slightly larger film for a mask. For the L1200, I use a 5.5 x 11/16-inch leader. You can expose the mask in the negative carrier, or make an easel from Plexiglas. The MIVALO punch will show up on Ebay every 6 months or so.

Thank you Eric. Yes I do have the L1200 Chassis with the Femoneg carrier. So the punch will punch 2 holes to both negative and film. The set is then transferred (after film development) on the femoneg and inserted on the pins. Or, is the MIVADAP something that fits into the Femoneg, and accepts the film sandwich? Also, as you are attaching a leader to the negative before punching, I assume you're doing this with tape and that the negative does not itself get punched. Does this cause a problem if you wish to repeat the masking at a later time as you would probably wish to remove the leader from the negative rather than keep them together indefinitely? Learning all the time......

There is so much to learn about masking. Lynn Radeka has compiled much information in a kit which he offers on his website http://www.radekaphotography.com/ . Howard Bond also wrote some articles in Photo Techniques magazine, and Bob Herbst writes about it at http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/EnlargeNeg/enlargeneg.html

I tape a leader to my negative, punch that leader, and this leader must never be removed or you will lose registration for future printing. For my mask film, I cut down film to 5.5 x 4.66-inches so I need no leader. The unexposed mask film is punched and placed in register with the punched negative/leader (in the Femoneg) and exposed. After the mask film is developed, it is again placed in register with the negative and printed.

I file my negative/leader and mask in 5x7 PrintFile pages, since they are too big for the 4x5 pages. This also keeps the mask with the neg, for future printing.

The MIVALO will actually punch 7 holes in the leader, the most distant two will fit the Femoneg. The actual size of the MIVALO is over 12 inches long and weighs several pounds—it is much too big to place in the Femoneg.

Getting much clearer now! I thought the MIVADAP was an accessory that fits in the Femoneg and that holds the 2 sheets of film together. I suspected the MIVALO to be a substantial piece of equipment. I assume you also place glass bottom and top in the femoneg for masking? Or do you place the 4x5 Femomask on the bottom and glass on top? Are you concerned that the glue from the tape will cause damage to the negative in the long run? questions, questions, questions.... That take a look at the sources of info you suggest.

Dr. Louie said:

......I assume you also place glass bottom and top in the femoneg for masking? Or do you place the 4x5 Femomask on the bottom and glass on top? .....

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I use both sheets of glass. I guess you could use only the one glass on top, so long as both films don't separate.

Dr. Louie said:

......Are you concerned that the glue from the tape will cause damage to the negative in the long run? ......

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I use a silver mylar tape made by Delta1, and only apply it to the slightest margin of the negative. Other people use lithographer's tape. My main concern is to keep the tape from shrinking and then curling the negative. So be careful not to pull or stretch the tape when attaching the leader. But I see your concern... good subject to research.

Thanks for all your help Eric. Off to do more research...

Louie