How do I cut ra-4 paper?

Eric De Santiago · Apr 30, 2019

So far, I’ve been cutting my test strips with scissors in the dark. They always come out very uneven. Is there an easier/better way to cut test strips or smaller sheets of paper?

glbeas · Apr 30, 2019

If you can find a roller slitter or a small chopper type cutter its a lot easier. For working in the dark I would prefer the slitter type, I have an old Simmons cutter I use but you might find something at a hobby store that will do.
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Scrapboo...mers/Portable-Rotary-Paper-Trimmer/p/80813126

koraks · Apr 30, 2019

I like a roller cutter for this purpose. Fairly easy to get reasonably perpendicular cuts, and no risk of accidental amputations. I also use it to cut sheets from rolls using a cobbled up dispenser.

darkroommike · Apr 30, 2019

I use a regular guillotine cutter marked with the old style Dymo labeling tape for my most used sizes. Note that I even used the label maker to make "Braille" marks on a couple of sizes.

gordrob · Apr 30, 2019

I picked up a Fiskars paper cutter at a Michaels store. I tape a piece of mat board as a guide when I cut film down. Works great and no risk to losing a finger in the dark. Michaels usually has regular sales or weekly coupons.

1kgcoffee · Apr 30, 2019

As others have said a rotary paper cutter try to align the paper to a piece of tape at the desired length. Use your hand to hold it up against the edge and the other finger to push it up against the tape. if you have something to suspend the roll of paper like a broomstick on top of some stands. It actually becomes pretty easy overtime.

Nodda Duma · Apr 30, 2019

darkroommike said:
I use a regular guillotine cutter marked with the old style Dymo labeling tape for my most used sizes. Note that I even used the label maker to make "Braille" marks on a couple of sizes.

I do the exact same thing for cutting down sheet film from 8x10 to whole plate format.

darkroommike · Apr 30, 2019

Nodda Duma said:
I do the exact same thing for cutting down sheet film from 8x10 to whole plate format.

And I started doing this to make quarter plate from 4x5, great minds think alike.

mshchem · Apr 30, 2019

When you are cutting down rolls it's a pain. I have a huge cutter I bought used, it has a huge clamp, and a blade that is a shear, just goes up and down. I can cut down stacks of 50 sheets at a time.
If I was cutting down rolls I would just rough out 50 sheets of say 8 x 11, then stack it trim one end to get the stack straight, then set up the stop on the cutter to exactly 10 inches and cut it all in one stroke.
40 years ago a buddy of mine was printing postcards, we went to the print shop where I worked. Turned off the lights and this massive cutter we cut stacks of 11x14 into 3 1/2 × 5 1/2 . It was amazing. To bad Kodak doesn't cut paper anymore. I use Fuji, it's precut.
Best Regards Mike

cmacd123 · Apr 30, 2019

guilotine paper cutter used to be standard darkroom equipment. you may have to build a wooden jig if you have to work from rolls. Paper safes are handy to stuff the cut sheets into to keep from losing sheets on the table.

How do I cut ra-4 paper?

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