The incredible shrinking paper

lensmagic · Jun 7, 2009

I have been working with a new contact print frame for 8x10 film and paper. To my surprise neither (Kodak TMax and Azo) is a full eight by ten inches. But what is really surprising is that the unprocessed paper is larger by a sixteenth or an eighth of an inch than the same type paper (from the same box) after it has been processed. What is happening during the processing of the Azo??

ath · Jun 8, 2009

Non-RC paper expands when getting wet and shrinks when drying. Depending on the circumstances of drying it can end up with a slightly different size.
The paper is probably dried forced during manufacturing and additionally has some tension during drying. When it dries on air left alone it is a little bit smaller.
When you mount the wet paper with tape to a glass plate for drying you get a perfectly flat print but with a bigger size.

L Gebhardt · Jun 8, 2009

I have heard that this shrinkage is the cause of the dry down darkening on the print. Supposedly the taping method of drying keeps this dry down to a minimum.

ath · Jun 8, 2009

L Gebhardt said:
I have heard that this shrinkage is the cause of the dry down darkening on the print. Supposedly the taping method of drying keeps this dry down to a minimum.

I don't think so. I have observed no difference between air dried test strips and taped final prints. And RC paper has drydown as well - depending on the emulsion. Some more, some less. I think it is the swelling of the gelantine; wet prints look less sharp as well.

WolfTales · Jun 24, 2009

It has to do with the relativity of the size of the dark room paper to the darkeness of the darkroom. Sometimes the expanding universe will stretch the paper slightly.

Sirius Glass · Jun 24, 2009

WolfTales said:
It has to do with the relativity of the size of the dark room paper to the darkness of the darkroom. Sometimes the expanding universe will stretch the paper slightly.

That and as one approaches the speed of light, time dilates and length contracts. This explains the relative length changes.

Steve

JBrunner · Jun 24, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
That and as one approaches the speed of light, time dilates and length contracts. This explains the relative length changes.

Steve

Finally, a valid explanation!!

MattKing · Jun 24, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
That and as one approaches the speed of light, time dilates and length contracts. This explains the relative length changes.

Steve

Sadly, to measure this effect, one needs a Michelson-Morley interferometer

Matt

Sirius Glass · Jun 24, 2009

MattKing said:
Sadly, to measure this effect, one needs a Michelson-Morley interferometer

Matt

Better that than sniffing the ether!

Steve

Kirk Keyes · Jun 24, 2009

I like ether. Better than methylene chloride. Or pyridine.

WolfTales · Jun 24, 2009

I prefer ammonium thiosulfate. Especially in the morning.

jimgalli · Jun 25, 2009

I think we have the basis for a class action here. Kodak has been knowingly selling us shrinking paper for years! We've been paying for 8X10 and it shrinks! I want 1.6% of my $$$ back with interest thank you.

greybeard · Jun 25, 2009

I like ether. Better than methylene chloride. Or pyridine.

So for you it is an "ether, or" situation?

Sirius Glass · Jun 25, 2009

greybeard said:
I like ether. Better than methylene chloride. Or pyridine.

So for you it is an "ether, or" situation?

At least it is not a "nether nor" situation!

Steve

The incredible shrinking paper

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The incredible shrinking paper

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