How to print slightly wider than the frame?

Lanthanum · Feb 7, 2017

Hello All

How do I print slightly wider than the frame? I want to print black edges to show the full frame of my negative. I am printing 35mm with a Durst M707 Color enlarger. Is there a part I should buy or some trick to it?

Thanks for any help!

Steve Smith · Feb 7, 2017

You need to buy a file!

Steve.

pdeeh · Feb 7, 2017

A lever-arch file, or will any old three-ring binder do?

howardpan · Feb 7, 2017

If you want straight edge black borders, I think you can use a glass negative holder of a larger size (6x6 or 4x5). If you want irregular edges, you would need to take an existing 35mm negative holder and file away its borders so that the full frame is exposed.

darkosaric · Feb 7, 2017

If you file away 35mm holder - also buy fine sand paper, to be sure that holder does not damage the negatives.

tedr1 · Feb 7, 2017

Negative masks that do this were made for some enlargers, some were named "full frame" masks. Search the Durst literature for references to optional negative masks.

Sirius Glass · Feb 7, 2017

Get a large glass negative carrier like a 4"X5".

Lanthanum · Feb 8, 2017

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I had another look at the negative carrier for my enlarger and it has adjustable masks as well as the fixed ones. I think the adjustable ones are intended to be used with the fixed masks to fine tune the area? What I notice is that they leave a slightly fuzzy border, not crisp. Am I correct that the adjustable masks are for fine tuning? What about the fuzzy borders?

I was thinking to put larger fixed masks in then use the adjustable masks to shrink the area down to just larger than 24x36mm. Are there any problems with this approach?

MattKing · Feb 8, 2017

Lanthanum said:
Am I correct that the adjustable masks are for fine tuning?

More likely they are there to mask the light source, to help minimize flare.

Hilo · Feb 8, 2017

If you can project the negative plus the borders, then you can use an easel to mask to as narrow you want the borders to be. In that way the outside of your border will not be fuzzy but straight.

Lanthanum · Feb 8, 2017

Hilo said:
If you can project the negative plus the borders, then you can use an easel to mask to as narrow you want the borders to be. In that way the outside of your border will not be fuzzy but straight.

Of course! I have been using a fixed easel for 8x10, but I have 3 or 4 other easels in a cupboard, thanks

chip j · Feb 8, 2017

Hilo · Feb 8, 2017

Good !

For some enlargers the file suggestion also makes sense. I use Focomat 1c and Valoy II, which have a beautiful negative holder that gives a quite narrow border which is somewhat fuzzy on the outside. Sometimes I use that, but when I want the cleaner straight borders, then I use another filed out negative holder and the easel . . . I have never managed to file out a negative holder with a perfect result, so I just file out a little more, I do not worry how it looks and use the easel as described before.

removed account4 · Feb 8, 2017

what kind of enlarger do you have ?

jvo · Feb 8, 2017

i print the negative, full frame, then put an centered opaque mask over the image/exposed paper that left a narrow exposed border on each side; then removed the negative and briefly flashed the exposed paper. develop as usual. the size of the paper i used was dependent on the dimensions you want for your completed print.

Hilo · Feb 8, 2017

jnanian said:
what kind of enlarger do you have ?

Not sure who you are addressing: the original poster uses Durst M707 Color . . .

I use Leitz Focomat 1c and Leitz Valoy II, and in my previous post I write about their negative holder (the same). I also use the Leitz Focomat 2c and the Durst L1000, which both have negative holders with glass, and that leads to using the easels . . .

I almost always print the full negative, sometimes with and sometimes without the black borders. Depends on the image

removed account4 · Feb 8, 2017

thanks hilo !
i didn't see what enlarger the OP was using
and i agree 100 % with your suggestion

How to print slightly wider than the frame?

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