Durst Nega 138 masks

I use a Nega 138 carrier in my Durst 138 with glass top and bottom, not the metal inserts. Primarily I print 6x6 negs.

In order to center the film in the carrier and prevent light spill over, I use a pretty ugly system. I've cut window mats for the various neg sizes, and gaffer tape it to the bottom side:



I'm wondering what other solutions people might have? Before you ask - the masking blades on my unit were unceremoniously ripped out by whoever owned the enlarger before me. They didn't really aid with centering the negative, mind you.

Thanks!

Omega 4x5 enlargers I use never even had any masking system. I use an overlay on the top glass just like you. My 8x10 Durst has a slot for a mask above the negative holder.

A slot for a mask would be brilliant. Looking at a picture of the Laraneg I think I can see where the slot goes. It's a great design if it works how I think it does. I've never seen one in person.

Centering the negative is so important in the grand scheme of things. I suppose I could have thin aluminum masks cut, but would be wary about them damaging my glass.

I very precisely cut my masks out of small leftover sheets of Cibachrome, which is a very consistent polyester material white on one side and dark brown on the other. I use a razor blade and straightedge to cut the opening precisely, just big enough for 4x5 sheet film to fit inside the window, then precisely center that using little punched tabs which slip over the two side registration pins on the NEGA 138. These punched adhesive tabs were routinely sold for art work registration back in graphics days and can still be found fairly easily. With roll film, however, which is quite a bit thinner, you need to put the mask atop the upper carrier glass rather than between the two sheets of glass. The masking blades built into the 138 chassis are good for only general control. You can never make them fit the image ideally, as if every crop on does was intended to be symmetrical to begin with! They did offer a much more expensive carrier with the blades in the carrier
itself; but this wouldn't solve the problem ideally either. I just keep on hand a full set of format masks like I described above and it seems
to do everything I need.

Durst made an insert for your Nega 138 to handle roll film from 35mm to 70mm. It is called a Ladane 138 or sometimes a Ladane 70. There is an explanation of it's use in the Durst 138 instructions. If you do a search for the Durst Ladane 138 you will come up with some information and pictures of the insert. I use one with anti newton glass for printing 6x9 negatives.
Gord

Durst made all kinds of accessories. Sometimes I like them, sometimes I like my own tweaks better. Cost wise, just depends how lucky you
are finding affordable gadgets still in prime condition.

Using the tabs is a great idea - I'd not considered that. It would definitely be a more accurate system than what I'm doing now. I might have an old box of Cibachrome in a stack somewhere. It came with a Colenta 30AT processor, which had been used for Cibachromes if I remember correctly.

The Ladane is an interesting option for sure - I've seen them come up on the auction site, but didn't really understand what it was for. I've used Durst equipment all my life, and am constantly baffled by all the little odds and ends they produced. I'll keep my eyes out, thank you!

One thing I can't quite figure out about the Ladane: can I have both glass top and bottom *and* one of the masks?

I get a bit dizzy reading the three or four different manuals I have! I'm sure if I had one of the Ladane's in front of me, it would make sense, but I can't quite visualize it.

Marco, why don't you PM Ginette, she may have some inserts available. L