Home Printing: How large?

[ataim]

The largest that I have made so far is 20x24 inches. I'd like to buy a roll of mural paper and stretch out my Durst 184 legs a little. If I was to do this I would build something similar to this or use drums. I bought a 12v low volume pump a while back just for this use.

 

[Allen Friday]

I can do very large prints in my darkroom. But, I rarely enlarge 6x7 negatives over 16x20. it's not the trays or enlarger that set the limit, but I find the quality of the print drops off unacceptably beyond 16x20 in most instances. If I want prints bigger than that, I shoot bigger film.

 

[markbarendt]

(some have reported difficulty with processing fiber prints in drums)

And many have not.

The only issue I've had with drums was in learning how to use them well.

 

[polyglot]

3 really good once per year is a pretty good turn out.I'm happy with one.

Yeah but I have low standards

 

[semi-ambivalent]

reaching up to focus the enlarger and bending down to the focusing scope

I am finding this to be such a PITA that I'm looking into stretches and exercises specifically to increase my shoulder mobility, which is beginning to lessen.

s-a

 

[Jim Taylor]

20x24" is the largest I've tried. I think I can get a little bigger with the enlarger (de vere 504) my limit for colour is 20" wide, since that's as wide as my ACP-502 will take.

 

[eddie]

I am finding this to be such a PITA that I'm looking into stretches and exercises specifically to increase my shoulder mobility, which is beginning to lessen.
s-a

Have you looked into a flexible focus extension (not sure if that's the technical term)? I have one for my LPL. It adds about 30 inches of reach. Beseler and Omega also made versions.

 

[jerrybro]

16 x 20, done in a single tray. Once matted and framed they need a lot of wall space, I find 11 x 14 to be the largest practical size for display in my home.

 

[Bob Marvin]

Those flexible focus extensions are fairly expensive; a used WA enlarger lens, which makes them unnecessary, might be cheaper (for example, my 60 mm WA Componon only cost me $60 on ePrey).

 

[eddie]

Bob- I'm talking about using them for floor projection of 30 inch+ enlargements (although I use it for 16x20/20x24 on the baseboard, too.) WA's are nice if you want to go up a paper size, on the baseboard, though.

 

[semi-ambivalent]

16x20/20x24 on the baseboard

That's what I'm thinking of. Thanks! Hadn't thought of those. I'll look for one after the EoY madness.

s-a

 

[eddie]

s-a,
Occasional bouts of bursitis would make focusing painful for me. The extension really helped, and I don't have to contort myself to focus. They're expensive, but so is a new shoulder... What enlarger do you use?

 

[Dr Croubie]

The extension really helped, and I don't have to contort myself to focus. They're expensive, but so is a new shoulder...

I've got an LPL, which has a focussing knob with a groove in it to take an extension (sold separately, and probably expensive new).
I haven't tried it, but surely all they are is a giant rubber-band of sorts?
How about just trying with a piece of car radiator belt, or turntable belt, or some other kid of rubber loop? Even a piece of string coated in something to make it a bit 'grippy'?

 

[eddie]

Here's an example (for LPL). It's a bit more sophisticated than a rubber-band. The precision is excellent. I have this model, which adds 27 inches to my reach. They are expensive but, now that I've used one, I can't imagine making large prints without one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Flexible-Focus-Extension-for-LPL-and-Saunders-LPL-4x5-7700-Enlargers-/380461325604?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item5895431d24

 

[polyglot]

... and reaching up to focus the enlarger and bending down to the focusing scope ...

Some enlargers (e.g. DeVere) have their enlargement and focusing knobs at the bottom, right under the baseboard. Makes life very easy!

 

[Ian Grant]

Some enlargers (e.g. DeVere) have their enlargement and focusing knobs at the bottom, right under the baseboard. Makes life very easy!

Except when the baseboard's dropped to the floor But it does allow huge prints.

Ian

 

[polyglot]

Except when the baseboard's dropped to the floor But it does allow huge prints.

Ian

Edit: kneel before your enlarger in supplication!

Mine is a bench-top 504, so no option for dropping anything. Max enlargement is definitely less than the free-standing ones but it's not like I have the space or equipment or money to print at those sizes. I think I could get about 20x24 from mine (not much more than 10" from column to lens, so 20" would be max width), maybe 20x30-20x40 with 6x9-6x12 but I doubt it has the column-height to do that.

 

[Ian Grant]

Mine is a bench-top 504, so no option for dropping anything. Max enlargement is definitely less than the free-standing ones but it's not like I have the space or equipment or money to print at those sizes. I think I could get about 20x24 from mine.

Choice of enlarger lens helps, I always used a 135mm Componon for 5x4 with an ancient early 1950's Johnsons V45 (for about 30 years), until getting the 5108 which had a 150mm for 5x4 and a 300mm for 10x8. I find both lenses a long - I prefer not to use the drop baseboard unless absolutely necessary.

I bought a 270mm Rodagon for 10x8 work because the height and bellows extension with the 300mm wasn't ideal meaning I had to drop the baseboard frequently. I guess it's partly what you're used to unfortunately I'd given my best 135mm Componon away (it was my second) with the Johnsons enlarger but by chance I had it back with another Johnsons V45 from the same member here a few months ago.

In terms of print quality there's no discernible difference between images made with the 135mm Componon or 150mm Rodagon, or 270mm Rodagon and 300mm Symmar S but the shorter lenses save on back ache and allow larger prints particularly with a bench mounted enlarger.

Ian

 

[PKM-25]

s-a,
Occasional bouts of bursitis would make focusing painful for me. The extension really helped, and I don't have to contort myself to focus. They're expensive, but so is a new shoulder... What enlarger do you use?

I the focus extension for my LPL last night, it cost me all of $80 used and it works great, well worth the money.

 

[PKM-25]

In terms of print quality there's no discernible difference between images made with the 135mm Componon or 150mm Rodagon, or 270mm Rodagon and 300mm Symmar S but the shorter lenses save on back ache and allow larger prints particularly with a bench mounted enlarger.

I notice a pronounced difference between my 135mm 5.6 Rodagon and my 150mm F4 Apo N Rodagon. Even when set at same aperture of F8-F11 the light throuput and overall sharpness and contrast of the 150 is much improved over the 135 and the 135 is a decent lens.

So as much as I like the 135 for going up a paper size on the baseboard, I would much rather nearly max out my 4550 XLG on the column and put that amazing 150 on.

 

[semi-ambivalent]

s-a,
Occasional bouts of bursitis would make focusing painful for me. The extension really helped, and I don't have to contort myself to focus. They're expensive, but so is a new shoulder... What enlarger do you use?

Sorry, I'm traveling and not paying attention. Beseler 23CII XL.

 

[ac12]

11x14 because I am limited by by print washer.
I've been looking for an affordable 16x20 washer for a while, but I keep missing them.

For processing larger than 8x10 I use either a rocking print tray (Honeywell or Heath/Michell) or a drum. I can go up to 16x20 for the rocking print trays and drums...if I can wash the print.

But in my current temp darkroom in a small half-bath, my practical limit is 8x10, simply due to lack of space.

 

[andreios]

Some time ago I bought the trays and everything to be able to enlarge to 30x40cm (12x16in or so) but I find myself printing only on 18x24cm / 8x10 in paper nowadays. I simply like the smaller prints more. I put them on the walls - 6,5x6,5in print in a 12x16 mat&frame. All those 11x14 prints that I've made are just sitting in the drawer the "tiny" ones are on the walls.

 

[Paul Glover]

With my 23CII-XL I can enlarge all the way to about 24x24 on the baseboard from a 6x6 negative with an 80mm lens, but right now I only have trays and an easel for sizes up to 11x14 and would have to come up with a tray stacking solution, or otherwise de-clutter the darkroom/office to make more space for larger trays. I don't see wanting to print past 16x20 at any point in the future.

 

[Nige]

I've gone to 20x24 using the one tray method. It fits into my sink sideways and I've then got enough room to line up my buckets for the chems. I was in the same tray using the many water changes and leave it mellow method! The print's I've made this size have been 4x5 negs using a 135mm lens in a LPL 4500 enlarger. It doesn't allow much room for positioning the paper ideally or cropping. I'm not sure if I max out the column... I've just printed them 'full frame' then matted to suit. Focusing without that do-hickey listed above is a challange... I think I called in another family member to twist the dial! I reckon I'll make something to replicate what that does.