Square format from TLR camera: how do you orient the negative in enlarger?

[Wayne-xx]

Newbie question: I have recently started printing from a 6x6 format Mamiya TLR camera. Normally I cut the negatives into strips of 3 to fit into sleeves in a binder. If one places a strip of 3 negatives in the negative carrier in the enlarger, the image on the easel is oriented sideways. I find it tricky to get horizons exactly horizontal viewing this way. I was wondering whether folk just print “sideways” like this, whether the negative carrier is rotated 90 degrees (so the strip of negatives runs forward-backward in the enlarger instead of side-to-side), whether negatives are cut into individual frames or is there some trick I’m missing. I’m using an Omega D6 Pro-Lab 4x5 enlarger with a two-piece carrier with locating pins. Thanks!

 

[koraks]

I was wondering whether folk just print “sideways” like this

Yeah, that's what I do.

 

[logan2z]

Yeah, that's what I do.

Same here.

You should be able to use the vertical easel blades as a guide to aligning your horizon line.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I've adapted a 5x7 Chromega head to my Beseler enlarger. That means that the only way to print an image in "portrait orientation" is to view it "sideways." I've got used to this. A good easel with square blades helps with horizons.

You could always resort to holding your camera sideways when making images. That would straighten things out

Doremus

 

[Sirius Glass]

I too print 120 strips of film sideways. Separating into individual negatives, produces single negatives which I find are harder to handle that the strips of 3 negatives.

 

[grahamp]

At least with 6x6 from a TLR most* images will be the same way up . I actually had to think about what I do. I will rotate single sheets (4x5, 2x3), but I just adapt to the run of the film otherwise.

If you do not want to adjust/move your easel, you can use a T-square or set square and ruler to sort out vertical and horizontals anywhere in the image.

* if you hold the camera above your head you can turn your head the other way when enlarging!

 

[MattKing]

If it bothers you, and you don't have one of the enlargers which are designed for a rotating negative holder - some Beseler enlargers, for example - then you may be able to turn the entire enlarger sideways and work from the side.
I work with my enlarger on a movable cart, so that would be an easy option for me.
A former enlarger, in a previous bathroom/temporary darkroom:

But it doesn't bother me.

 

[BobUK]

If it's such an inconvenience and you only use negatives from the Mamiya, why not turn the enlarger through 90 degrees. That way you will have the projected image in the correct orientation.
Better though to mentally adapt to the situation like I should think the majority of users here do.

 

[Pieter12]

I use a piece of graph paper or a sheet I have gridded out on an inkjet printer, cut to 8x10 or 11x14, in the easel after focusing. I can then easily line up horizons or building side, whatever I want square in the frame. I have also marked on those sheets the horizontal and vertical centers, to center or avoid centering parts of the image.

 

[GregY]

I mostly print 6x6 negs on my Beseler 45MXT..... & sometimes I spin the negative holder 90°.
Occasionally for bigger prints w 120 film i'll use my Durst 138 w the glass holder & then i live with whatever configuration works to get the negative centred in the 5x7" holder. I double check both the easel and the image horizons with a 90° precision square.

 

[Maris]

When enlarging negatives from cameras that transport film in the vertical direction, TLRs for example, I much prefer to place the negatives in the enlarger so the projected image has the top of the picture (sky for example) to the right.
For horizontal transport cameras the negatives go into the enlarger so that the top of the picture is projected nearest to the column of the enlarger.
And to make things complicated a mix of negatives from a Mamiya RB67 camera can project with the sky at the top when the back is horizontal but negatives with the back turned vertical send the sky left. Which I don't like but put up with.

 

[Wayne-xx]

Wow! Thank you all so much for chiming in. Some nice suggestions of getting things square. I'll try the sideways image and join the ranks!

 

[dpurdy]

8x10 paper in an easel is sideways. I always put the top to the left.