ULF negative to paper - contact frames?

[Bob Carnie]

I am about to make some really large negatives and need a good contact frame system.. I will be making Silver Prints and PT PD Prints.. Big ones.

a Flip top Nu Ark burner would be a great idea as you could use it for both purposes, but We actually like the convenience of dodging and burning as a final tweek on pt pd prints. the fact that the Nu Arc flips makes it inconvenient for this purpose as we cannot control the distribution of light.

In a perfect world I could use a huge contact vacuum frame and have a light source above that could supply the UV light for Pt Pd and alt process, but as well slip sideways or away, and a regular bulb with filter holder could be put in place that would then hold all the filters for split printing on silver(old separation light integrator unit) .

Anyone have this problem or solution?, I want to be printing up to 30 x 40 inch prints with a bed to allow the registration pins to sink into the rubber blanket when exposing.

Pictures and product #s would be appreciated.. I know a few 20 x24 neg printers are out there and may have some insight.

 

[Bill Burk]

There are/were plenty of tabletop vacuum frames with top-mounted exposure units. I used them for film dupes and Dylux blueline proofs. You should look for one with a shield interlock to prevent you from UV... And then I bet you'd disable that. But stock equipment would have a door that closes like a barbecue lid or a curtain like this one. I'd wear good sunglasses and use plenty of sunblock if I were sticking my arms inside these things while the lights were on...

I haven't used this particular kind but this looks like it would do the job.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BII-Burgess-Industries-Inc-The-Manager-MS-50-Integrator-UV-Platemaker-Make-Offer-/262020113633?hash=item3d019da4e1

 

[pschwart]

I don't think silver gelatin will be a big problem since you don't need a UV light source. At those sizes for platinum I would probably employ masks and multiple exposures for consistency. Who wants to throw away a 30x40 (or even a 16x20) platinum because the dodging is not quite right? There are multiple ways to makes these -- I'm sure you know what I mean