Using 6x6 neg carrier for 645 negs

[tkamiya]

I've been wondering about this for a while....

I use Omega D-II with a 6x6 neg carrier to do 645 films. (I don't own 645 carriers) I don't use any masks or anything to cover the blank area. My reasoning is, since I use easel and never print film borders, it wouldn't make any difference. I've never experienced any obvious problems either. I also reasoned, this is more like having HUGE shadow area on both side of 6x6....

Is there a reason why many folks here recommend making mask to do such thing? What am I missing?

 

[Q.G.]

Those "HUGE shadow areas" are HUGE pools of light that will bounce off anything they hit, and when that light eventually reaches the image portion on your paper, it will lower contrast.

 

[srs5694]

If the carriers are glassless, a 645 carrier/insert may also help keep the negative a bit flatter.

That said, I'm skeptical that either of these issues would have much of an effect except in extreme conditions. You could test for the reflectivity effect by jury-rigging a mask out of cardboard or something and doing prints with and without it and see if you can tell the difference. I can't think of any way to test the effects of negative flatness except to obtain an appropriate carrier/insert.

 

[David Brown]

I wouldn't worry about it if you are happy with your prints. On the other hand, neg carriers can be had cheap if you are patient. Get the proper carrier when available. The right tool for the job and all that.

 

[fotch]

I did the same for years and later, when I could afford it, purchase the right carrier. Now, everything is so much more affordable with a huge used market.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

A bit of electrical tape to mask down the unused areas to keep light from bouncing around

 

[PhotoBob]

printing 645 on 6x6 carrier

This is what I have to do at my university darkroom and haven't noticed any problems.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

If you don't mask the 6x6 glassless neg carrier you get spill over on the enlarging paper which is similar to fog/low contrast. Masking down to 645 with black tape of cardboard works.