The film-to-lens-board distance in an enlarger (or camera) can be calculated for a given lens and film size. The necessary data is:
Focal length f
Flange distance Fg
Required magnification m
Format dimensions
Most 4” x 5” holders produce exposed dimensions on film of approximately 95 mm x 120 mm. If you want to make a 5X projection to produce a
borderless print on 20” wide paper with the 95 mm film dimension mapped onto the 20” width of the paper, you should realize that the projection must be somewhat greater than the width of the paper for full coverage (the projection should overlap the paper).
I’d plan on an approximate 21” projection of the 95 mm dimension of the negative. 21” = 533 mm. Thus, the magnification is m = 533 mm/95 mm = 5.6X.
The equation for the subject distance is s = f(1 + 1/m). Here, the subject is the negative.
I’ll use the 150 mm f/5.6A EL Nikkor whose data is known. This lens has a focal length of 149.6 mm
s = 149.6 mm(1 + 1/533 mm) = 176.3 mm (negative to 2nd nodal point of the lens)
The flange distance of this lens is 135.1 mm. Since the flange distance is less than the focal length, the 2nd nodal point lies forward of the flange surface by the distance f – Fg = 149.6 mm – 135.1 mm = 14.5 mm.
So, at 5.6X, the distance from the negative to the flange (which coincides with the face of the lens board) is s – 14.5 mm = 176.3 mm – 14.5 mm = 161.8 mm.
With a 135 mm f/5.6A EL Nikkor lens, the negative-to-flange distance is 145.1 mm at 5.6X.
Other brands of lenses of the same 6-element 4-group design will require similar dimensions.
https://galerie-photo.com/manuels/el-nikkor-enlarging-lenses.pdf