How Large??

John Galt · Mar 11, 2019

I have a Beseler23C III with the extended chassis. The base is the original, it is 16" x 25.75". How large can I (reasonably) print in the vertical position. My darkroom is not set up for horizontal work.My negatives are medium format (Hasselblad).

I have about 100 sheets of Ilford MGIV FB, 50 sheets of Fomabrom, and 50 sheets Ilford Gallerie that I recently acquired at auction. They are all about 12 yrs old. I tested a sample of each and they all seem to be fine. All paper is 16"x20". The largest I have printed up to now is 8x10. I have an art show coming up at a local art college and would like to try a 16x20 print for the first time.

I also acquired trays that will handle 16x20 at the same auction. My enlarging lens is an El Nikkor 80mm 1:5.6.

Any and all advice is welcome.

MattKing · Mar 11, 2019

John,
Put a negative in the carrier, put the carrier in the enlarger, crank the head up to the top and focus the result on the baseboard.
Now measure the image size.
That is how large you can reasonably print.
Assuming your enlarging lens is in good shape, your enlarger is aligned, and your negative is decent, the result will depend on the quality of the photography.

TheFlyingCamera · Mar 11, 2019

Without rigging a drop baseboard or horizontal projection, IIRC the 23C III with the extended column will get you to about 16x20. I used to use one, and was very happy with it (until I wanted to print from bigger negatives) and made 16x20 prints with it. You might in theory be able to print bigger than 16x20, but since your other limiting factor (your darkroom trays, paper and easel) are also capped at 16x20, that's pretty much the limiting factor moreso than the enlarger. The enlarging lens you have (the El-Nikkor 80mm) is a very good lens and you'll not be disappointed in your results even at those large sizes.

John Galt · Mar 28, 2019

Thanks everyone for your informative comments. When I raise the column up to do 16x20 the image extends outside the bounds of the base board, so I think I will get a sheet of cabinet grade plywood to put over the base board to allow me to print 16x20. Does anyone foresee any issues with this idea?

Arklatexian · Mar 28, 2019

John Galt said:
I have a Beseler23C III with the extended chassis. The base is the original, it is 16" x 25.75". How large can I (reasonably) print in the vertical position. My darkroom is not set up for horizontal work.My negatives are medium format (Hasselblad).

I have about 100 sheets of Ilford MGIV FB, 50 sheets of Fomabrom, and 50 sheets Ilford Gallerie that I recently acquired at auction. They are all about 12 yrs old. I tested a sample of each and they all seem to be fine. All paper is 16"x20". The largest I have printed up to now is 8x10. I have an art show coming up at a local art college and would like to try a 16x20 print for the first time.

I also acquired trays that will handle 16x20 at the same auction. My enlarging lens is an El Nikkor 80mm 1:5.6.

Any and all advice is welcome.

Were your negatives shot using a tripod? If so and if your camera was in focus, your darkroom equipment should have no problem making 16 x 20 prints from your Hasselblad negatives. Have you thought about making 16 x 16 prints or maybe 14 x 17 prints on sheets of 16 x 20 paper. You have many options. Does Beseler offer a 45 degree mirror for use on your enlarger to project the image on to a wall? You have a large amount of 16 x 20 paper. Why not "sacrifice" a sheet or two or three or more, making test prints. Just a few ideas!........Regards!

MattKing · Mar 28, 2019

John Galt said:
Thanks everyone for your informative comments. When I raise the column up to do 16x20 the image extends outside the bounds of the base board, so I think I will get a sheet of cabinet grade plywood to put over the base board to allow me to print 16x20. Does anyone foresee any issues with this idea?

You may not need to. Where are the "feet" of your easel? Even if the edge extends past the baseboard, the feet may still be on the baseboard itself.

faberryman · Mar 28, 2019

John Galt said:
Thanks everyone for your informative comments. When I raise the column up to do 16x20 the image extends outside the bounds of the base board, so I think I will get a sheet of cabinet grade plywood to put over the base board to allow me to print 16x20. Does anyone foresee any issues with this idea?

If your easel rests firmly on the baseboard, a small overhang shouldn't be worrisome.

wiltw · Mar 28, 2019

specs for the 23CIII XL are max enlargement is "larger than 16 x 20 (17-1/2 x 22")

trendland · Mar 28, 2019

John Galt said:
I have a Beseler23C III with the extended chassis. The base is the original, it is 16" x 25.75". How large can I (reasonably) print in the vertical position. My darkroom is not set up for horizontal work.My negatives are medium format (Hasselblad).

I have about 100 sheets of Ilford MGIV FB, 50 sheets of Fomabrom, and 50 sheets Ilford Gallerie that I recently acquired at auction. They are all about 12 yrs old. I tested a sample of each and they all seem to be fine. All paper is 16"x20". The largest I have printed up to now is 8x10. I have an art show coming up at a local art college and would like to try a 16x20 print for the first time.

I also acquired trays that will handle 16x20 at the same auction. My enlarging lens is an El Nikkor 80mm 1:5.6.

Any and all advice is welcome.

If you are planning to buy this enlarger it would make sence to ASK!
But if you have it still standing in your darkroom you think about to try out? It will last 2 min. and you have a very competent answer - perhaps a bit more competent to that you would be told here?

with regards

trendland · Mar 28, 2019

Arklatexian said:
Were your negatives shot using a tripod? If so and if your camera was in focus, your darkroom equipment should have no problem making 16 x 20 prints from your Hasselblad negatives. Have you thought about making 16 x 16 prints or maybe 14 x 17 prints on sheets of 16 x 20 paper. You have many options. Does Beseler offer a 45 degree mirror for use on your enlarger to project the image on to a wall? You have a large amount of 16 x 20 paper. Why not "sacrifice" a sheet or two or three or more, making test prints. Just a few ideas!........Regards!

Just making a test print - yes that is a real thing!

with regards

ic-racer · Mar 28, 2019

The base is the original, it is 16" x 25.75

All paper is 16"x20"

When I raise the column up to do 16x20 the image extends outside the bounds of the base board

??

M Carter · Mar 29, 2019

When I had a 67c Beseler, I made sort of a plywood box about 8" and bolted it to my enlarging table, and mounted the column to it, vs. doing a drop table. I know the 23C has right and left legs, but that could be an option.

I did make a ceiling bracket for the top of the 67c column, it seemed to keep the head more stable. I have an MXT now and I also ceiling mounted the top of the frame; the head is all the way up for 20x24. The good thing about a drop table is your head stays in easier reach. I can just reach the filter drawer on my MXT at 20x24. A wall mount and removable drop table are in my future...

You can also build or use a sturdy table, and with most enlargers dump the baseboard and bolt the enlarger right to the table. That gives you as much extension as your table size.

Wall projection would be overkill for 16x20 or even 20x24, IMO.

John Galt · Mar 30, 2019

MattKing said:
You may not need to. Where are the "feet" of your easel? Even if the edge extends past the baseboard, the feet may still be on the baseboard itself.

I do not have a n easel that big Matt

John Galt · Mar 30, 2019

View attachment 220401 View attachment 220401

ic-racer said:
??

I shoot a lot of 6x4.5 with the Hasselblad. The baseboard is 16" wide and 25.75 deep. This photo illustrates the problem using my 6x4.5 neg carrier . . . . as you can see the projected image is about 11x15

MattKing · Mar 30, 2019

Which lens are you using?

ic-racer · Mar 30, 2019

John Galt said:
View attachment 220402 View attachment 220401 View attachment 220401
I shoot a lot of 6x4.5 with the Hasselblad. The baseboard is 16" wide and 25.75 deep. This photo illustrates the problem using my 6x4.5 neg carrier . . . . as you can see the projected image is about 11x15

Thank you for the picture, it really helps to see the issue. This is an interesting problem, because, I suspect the negative cannot be fed into the enlarger so it projects the other way (like a 35mm frame).

John Galt · Mar 30, 2019

MattKing said:
Which lens are you using?

Matt King I am using an El Nikkor 80mm

MattKing · Mar 30, 2019

John Galt said:
View attachment 220402 View attachment 220401 View attachment 220401
I shoot a lot of 6x4.5 with the Hasselblad. The baseboard is 16" wide and 25.75 deep. This photo illustrates the problem using my 6x4.5 neg carrier . . . . as you can see the projected image is about 11x15

Is this the maximum print size available, or is it the maximum if you don't want the image outside the area of the baseboard?

John Galt · Mar 30, 2019

ic-racer said:
Thank you for the picture, it really helps to see the issue. This is an interesting problem, because, I suspect the negative cannot be fed into the enlarger so it projects the other way (like a 35mm frame).

Yes, I can rotate the neg carrier 90 degrees but I do no gain anything by doing so.

While the enlarger on the extended chassis is capable of 25x18 at full height and focused . . . the largest image I can accommodate with the supplied base is aprox 11x15

MattKing · Mar 30, 2019

You need a 16x20 easel.
If we were neighbours (note the "u" in neighbours) you could borrow my 2 blade version.
Put the baseboard on a table. Build a shelf that is big enough (18" x 22"?) and has legs that will allow the legs to stand on the table and centre to rest on the baseboard.

John Galt · Mar 30, 2019

MattKing said:
You need a 16x20 easel.
If we were neighbours (note the "u" in neighbours) you could borrow my 2 blade version.
Put the baseboard on a table. Build a shelf that is big enough (18" x 22"?) and has legs that will allow the legs to stand on the table and centre to rest on the baseboard.

Thanks Matt! I will go the plywood route and post up a pic of my solution . . . I think at this point in time I w ill just tape the paper to the plywood . . I am very clever!! a 16x20 easle is not in the budget roght now.

MattKing · Mar 30, 2019

John Galt said:
Thanks Matt! I will go the plywood route and post up a pic of my solution . . . I think at this point in time I w ill just tape the paper to the plywood . . I am very clever!! a 16x20 easle is not in the budget roght now.

Consider putting magnetic paint on the plywood and using magnets as well.
You might be able to find a decent priced 16x20 easel at the Kent WA camera show on April 13th.

RalphLambrecht · Mar 31, 2019

John Galt said:
Thanks everyone for your informative comments. When I raise the column up to do 16x20 the image extends outside the bounds of the base board, so I think I will get a sheet of cabinet grade plywood to put over the base board to allow me to print 16x20. Does anyone foresee any issues with this idea?

No, I'm sure that will work just fine.

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