How Large do You Print?

[photomc]

Just spent part of the day printing my first 16x20 fiber prints. Must say it was a bit more than I expected. I have done quite a of 8x10 and 11x14 recently, but the prep/space/printing of 16x20 is much more involed (at least to me). SOOOOO! I was wondering What is the Largest Print You Normally Do and if 16x20 or larger, how big is your darkroom?

Thanks

 

[Sean]

If I ever do get my darkroom going I plan to print 8x10negs at 16x20, color work mostly 35mm negs at 8x10-11x14.

 

[Robert]

A mix of 5x7,8x10 and the odd 11x14. If I really wanted to do 16x20 I'd convert one of my film tanks into a print tank. While it wouldn't be the most interesting way it would take up virtually no room. Not to mention I own the tank and motor base already so the cost would be zero versus a set of trays.

 

[Jeremy]

I usually print 5x7's or 8x10's, but I will soon be printing my 5x7's on 8x0 paper and my 8x10's on 11x14 paper to make them easier to mat

 

[matt.s.]

I collaborate with the printer at my lab, together we can make fiber B&W prints off 8x10" negs up to 50x60 inches. The largest I have made is 40x50". He uses long troughs for the chemistry & selenium toner & prints on ilford MGFB. It can be a surprisingly quick process. Usually I do a small work print to figure out the dodging & burning then the prints are made using a Devere horizontal 10x10 enlarger with a very powerful light source. I think I have got it lucky here because it is only about $300 AUS Dollars to get a 40x50" exhibition quality fiber mural. I dont think I would want to bother setting up my own darkroom to print murals it would be too much trouble & cost but it would be nice to print my own 20x24's, at the moment all I produce at home is 8x10 contacts.

 

[Sean]

hey matt, is it a pulse xenon light source? just curious

 

[Thomassauerwein]

I usually print on 11x14 FB paper though my image size is usually around 8x12. recently I've been printing some panoramics on 16x20 paper with the imge width at 17 inches. A few of my images like to be 16x2o but most (85%) are overbearing larger than 8x12.

 

[Cheryl Jacobs]

I'm printing almost all 10x10 on 11x14 now. I'd love to go larger, and I have plenty of space to do it (14'x18' dedicated darkroom) but my enlarger would definitely need to be upgraded. And I've got to find a deal on a darkroom sink, a big one. Right now, printing is serious exercise, as I have to run up two flights of stairs to the bathtub to wash all prints larger than 8x10. *eeeeeeesh*

 

[Jorge]

Right now, printing is serious exercise, as I have to run up two flights of stairs to the bathtub to wash all prints larger than 8x10. *eeeeeeesh*

Hey keeps you in good shape for those wonderful self portraits...

 

[matt.s.]

Jdef,

I didn't mean it to sound that way, it is a joy to be able to make contacts off 8x10 negs after years of enlarging. It is, however, quite a revelation to see certain negs enlarged to mural size, not that it suits everything mind you.

 

[matt.s.]

Sean,

I am not sure of the light source, but exposure times are surprisingly short at optimum aperture compared to other 8x10 enlargers I have used. I will check for you.

 

[removed account4]

i used to print 16x20s, but most of the prints i make are 11x14 or smaller. i kind of like the intimacy that a small print affords.

-john

 

[Cheryl Jacobs]

Jorge, LOL!

 

[brimc76]

I print mostly 8x10 with a mixture of 5x7's and 11x14's.

 

[Aggie]

..

 

[Ole]

I do 9½"x11¾" - or 24x30 as it's known in Europe. I don't do anything bigger, as I've run out of space for trays (my enlargers take up too much space). I have done 11x14's in the past by "swishing" them through the trays, and even one 24x32" with sponges...

But I ticked 8x10", since I mostly print 18x24cm, 8x10", 24x30cm...

 

[philldresser]

My favourite size at the moment is 12 x 16, so I voted for the next smallest.

 

[FrankB]

All 8x10 or 5x7 at the mo', although I've just picked up some 16x12 trays and some 16x12 and 11x14 paper, so...

 

[Jorge Oliveira]

I've clicked 11x14, but actually my prints are in 24x30cm (European size).

Jorge O

 

[Jorge Oliveira]

Ole

I've done 50x60 cm in the shower box using painting rolls.
Works fine, and one uses shower water as stop and wash.

Better be a hot day, 'cause one gets wet (-:

Jorge O

 

[lee]

Since I have just moved into the new darkroom I now have the space to print up to and including 20x24. The cost of the the paper is really high at that size. I have some 16x20 and use that so far. The Missions of San Antonio is nearly all 8x10 contacts and the enlarged stuff fits that stuff.

lee\c

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I used to like to print big. 16x20" was a kind of standard for shots I thought were good, and I would occasionally do multi-panel enlargements with four or six 16x20" sheets.

Now I rarely print larger than 11x14". I don't usually like to enlarge more than 4X from 4x5" and smaller if I can avoid it, and 8x10" and 11x14" negs I contact print.

 

[Huib]

Normally I print all my pictures on 11x14" paper, actual dimension of the image varies per image. After drying I trim the print and mount it for storage and viewing.

Wallhangers get the 20x24" treatment....because darkroomspace won't let me print bigger....

 

[Robert]

And I've got to find a deal on a darkroom sink, a big one. Right now, printing is serious exercise, as I have to run up two flights of stairs to the bathtub to wash all prints larger than 8x10. *eeeeeeesh*

I've mentioned this one before. Still not sure why it wouldn't work.

For less then the price of a tray the local building place sells laundry sinks. Only about 20"x24" . But what I've though why not build some sort of washer out a bunch of them?

If a person had room to put 5 or 6 in a row . Set them up with overflows linking them up. Each one lower then the other so the setup doesn't back up.

You'd put the first print in the first sink. Second on the second. And so on. If you need more washing spots then you could move the prints up when the first one is done.

It would be bulky. But actually cheaper then an archival washer. It would be possible to put dividers in and then even one sink could handle alot of paper.

 

[Donald Miller]

In the past I printed 16X20 enlargements occasionally. Now I contact print 12X20 and 8X10. I rarely enlarge 4X5 to 11X14 today. My more common print is 8X10 for both contacts and enlargements.