Enlarging "3a" size negatives (3 1/4 x 5 1/2") in an omega D5

srmcnamara · Feb 25, 2017

so my dad just found a book of 3a sized negatives from his grandfather in 1913. I'd love be to print them up for the family but it just seems like the 5.5 inch length would be a stretch for my enlarger to cover. Do you guys think it's worth a shot to file a negative carrier out, or should I just contact print them? Either way, they'll be scanned, of course.

darkroommike · Feb 25, 2017

Rather than break out a file set, make a temporary carrier from black mat board and test to see, you negs are a little longer than 5-inch but also a bit narrower than 4" diagonal is 6.38 inches and it should (maybe?) work, especially if you could live with a tiny bit of cropping on the long side. On the other hand you could just scan the negatives if you have the right scanner.

pdeeh · Feb 25, 2017

This is a lovely size for contacts

NedL · Feb 25, 2017

frank · Feb 25, 2017

Agree with both darkroomike and pdeeh!

enlarge, contact print, and scan

removed account4 · Feb 26, 2017

NedL said:
+1

+2
it goes on a 5x7 ( or bigger ) sheet of paper and looks PERFECT

Moopheus · Feb 26, 2017

jnanian said:
+2
it goes on a 5x7 ( or bigger ) sheet of paper and looks PERFECT

Also a good fit for Ilford postcard paper.

srmcnamara · Feb 26, 2017

I will be making a carrier out of mat board. Not sure why I didn't think about that earlier.

In the meantime I'm scanning them and posting them here Dead Link Removed, if anyone is interested. I'm floored at how high quality they are.

Enlarging "3a" size negatives (3 1/4 x 5 1/2") in an omega D5

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