What are your film size standards for prints?

Ariston · Sep 27, 2020

This can apply to color film, too, but I decided to post it in the B&W section because I am interested in the topic from a wet print standpoint (though I welcome those who scan, like me).

What is the largest print you typically make for the following three categories?:

1) 35mm
2) Medium format (all sizes)
3) Large format (4x5, mainly, since 8x10 and larger are the ideal with regards to "resolution")

I have read a lot of people say that 35mm just isn't good enough for 8x10, but I print to 8x10 all the time and it is just fine to me. But I admit that when I print an 8x10 from medium format, the difference can be pretty dramatic.

Do you tend to restrict your film to certain size prints? When you go out to shoot, do you choose your camera based on a particular print size you have in mind for your subject, or more on the needed portability, etc.?

wiltw · Sep 27, 2020

I found that the absolute max I would go with 135 format was 17X (16 X 20"), and that was begrudingly, back in the 1970s with Tri-X. Grain became too objectionable, unless grain was being USED creatively. Most photographers at that time had similar sentiment about 16x20 being the threshhold.

For professional uses, I generally dropped 135 format, and use medium format for most projects, unless I need the movements available in large format cameras.
Grain ceased to be a consideration with either format. If you apply the 17X threshold to the larger neg, in 4x5 that would be 60" in the short direction of the print.

darkosaric · Sep 27, 2020

For 35mm my standard print size is 24x36cm, on 30x40cm paper. That is 10x enlargement, and fits perfectly for my needs, looking the same print in hands and on the wall, perfect size for me.

Lachlan Young · Sep 27, 2020

If you want very smooth & rich tonality with minimal visible granularity, don't go above 2.5-4x enlargements. Otherwise, who the hell cares about arbitrary limits? 30x off 35mm Tri-X is beautiful - if you have the right enlarging lenses & a very solid/ accurate enlarger.

Donald Qualls · Sep 27, 2020

Up to now, I haven't printed larger than 8x10, but I've printed that big from Minolta 16 negatives with a 10x14mm image frame. That's roughly similar to printing 35mm to 20x30 inches (except it's harder to get microfilm in 35mm double perf).

BradS · Sep 27, 2020

In my own darkroom I am limited to 8x10 by the size of my trays.
I print 35mm negatives on 5x7 and will occasionally, but very rarely rarely make an 8x10 from 35mm.
I tend to print 4x5 at 8x10.

The biggest print I've ever had made by a professional printer...
from 35mm: 11x14.
from 4x5: 20x24 - which seemed stupidly large to me but that's what the client wanted and it did turn out pretty good.

I've never had much use for medium format but 8x10 is the biggest print I've ever made or had made from any medium format neg.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 27, 2020

Ariston said:
This can apply to color film, too, but I decided to post it in the B&W section because I am interested in the topic from a wet print standpoint (though I welcome those who scan, like me).

What is the largest print you typically make for the following three categories?:

1) 35mm
2) Medium format (all sizes)
3) Large format (4x5, mainly, since 8x10 and larger are the ideal with regards to "resolution")

I have read a lot of people say that 35mm just isn't good enough for 8x10, but I print to 8x10 all the time and it is just fine to me. But I admit that when I print an 8x10 from medium format, the difference can be pretty dramatic.

Do you tend to restrict your film to certain size prints? When you go out to shoot, do you choose your camera based on a particular print size you have in mind for your subject, or more on the needed portability, etc.?

I usually print to 11x14, often 8x10 and sometimes16x20 from all these ormats. I determine printsize by subject matter and never limit myself due to filmsize.

faberryman · Sep 27, 2020

RalphLambrecht said:
I usually print to 11x14, often 8x10 and sometimes16x20 from all these ormats. I determine printsize by subject matter and never limit myself due to filmsize.

I am not sure why anyone would have any hard and fast rules.

Alan9940 · Sep 27, 2020

For 135, the largest I'll go is 8x12"; for MF and 4x5, the largest is 10x13". Most of my prints are smaller than this, though.

radiant · Sep 28, 2020

Ariston said:
1) 35mm
2) Medium format (all sizes)
3) Large format (4x5, mainly, since 8x10 and larger are the ideal with regards to "resolution")

1&2) 8x10", I've printed larger ones but I don't like the big prints. I just got some inkjet prints made to 7"x 7" and that size feels enough big. My enlarger max enlargement for 35mm is 15" x 22".
3) Only contact printing. I chose to build 5x7" camera instead of 4x5" because of this. Some shy look at 8x10" cameras but gladly always turn my head away..

ps. as a metric-size citizen I really love inch sizes on films and papers, makes it so easy. I hate when paper manufacturers has made up new size which isn't directly in inches but really close.

koraks · Sep 28, 2020

I mostly print on 9.5x12" paper (24x30.5cm) because it's a convenient size. Sometimes 30x40cm. I tend to use 0.5-1.5" margins. The simple truth is that I don't have much use for bigger prints - there's only so much wall space in our house.

mooseontheloose · Sep 28, 2020

koraks said:
I mostly print on 9.5x12" paper (24x30.5cm) because it's a convenient size. Sometimes 30x40cm. I tend to use 0.5-1.5" margins. The simple truth is that I don't have much use for bigger prints - there's only so much wall space in our house.

Me too! I mostly shoot 35mm and 120 and will print both sizes on 9.5x12 paper, but with plenty of margin space (I usually do 8x8 for my square negs, and different sizing for 35mm depending on the image). For my grainy infrared shots on 35mm, I don't print larger than 5x7 (on 8x10 paper) because the grain becomes too distracting at larger enlargements.

Also, even though I could print larger, the reality is that I don't have space for large prints in my tiny Japanese apartment, nor do I have space for the trays needed in the darkroom. Printing smaller is fine for me.

MattKing · Sep 28, 2020

I've been quite happy with 135 printed to 11x14 - some negatives don't work for this, but many do.
I've mixed 11x14 prints from 135, 645, 6x6 and 6x7 in the same gallery show, and they have worked well together.
And because of the post below, those prints are with 1/2 inch borders .

radiant · Sep 28, 2020

Guys and gals, you are mixing paper size and print size

koraks · Sep 28, 2020

vedostuu said:
Guys and gals, you are mixing paper size and print size

True, although paper size combined with margins tells print size. That's why I also included information on the margins I used. These vary, though, depending on composition and my taste/vision for a particular image. I standardize paper size to an extent, but image size less so.

foc · Sep 28, 2020

Back in the early 1990s I once made a 20x30 inch / 50x76 cm canvas print from a 35mm Reala neg. (This was before inkjet canvas prints)
A lot of people would not believe it was from a 35mm neg.

darkosaric · Sep 29, 2020

Question fro those that print small prints: how do you do dodging and burning? I find it almost impossible on prints smaller than 20x30cm to do this, due to short exposure times (even at f8-f11), and small areas (for example to dodge eyes on small print).

Thanks,

SJC1952 · Sep 29, 2020

For 35mm I enlarge on mostly 5x7 and 8x10 but sometimes 9.5x12. For MF I'll use 8x10 and 9.5x12 and 11x14. I always use 0.5 to 1.5 inch borders so the actual print size is smaller. I've recently acquired a 5x7 Rittreck which I use for contact prints on 5x7 paper. My enlargers won't do large format.

koraks · Sep 29, 2020

darkosaric said:
Question fro those that print small prints: how do you do dodging and burning? I find it almost impossible on prints smaller than 20x30cm to do this, due to short exposure times (even at f8-f11), and small areas (for example to dodge eyes on small print).

Thanks,

Simple - I don't d&b small areas on small prints.
I prefer to light a scene in such a way or pick such an angle that d&b aren't really necessary, or that it at least is restricted to larger areas.
Small area d&b comes at the risk of an unnatural look anyway, I find.

halfaman · Sep 29, 2020

The maximum paper size I can do is 50x60 cm (20x24''), but I have bever done anything larger than 30x40 cm (12x16'') usually from 6x7 negative.

I enlarged normally to 20x24 (8x10''), but recently I am starting to use more 25x30 cm (10x12'') as the default size. With very special photos I do 30x40 cm and I plan to try 50x60 cm to see how it feels.

guangong · Sep 29, 2020

All I know is that my friend, the late Louie Stettner, made sharp huge color poster sized prints from 35mm. As for myself, years ago I printed a lot of 11x14, but as years passed I tend to print much smaller ( perhaps influenced by my etching experience, although my friend Bob Conover did etchings that were poster sized). My best friend makes poster sized photos of birds but I believe his picture would be stronger if printed much smaller.
As for print sizes depending on negative size, it never crossed my mind though perhaps more detail can be picked up in Medalist negative than from a Leica and same sized prints from different formats can have a different look

Chan Tran · Sep 29, 2020

I use only 35mm (I shot only a couple of shots with 4x5) and for me it's 8x10 or 8x12. Any larger I think it's grainy and I shoot Portra 160 and Ektar 100.

NB23 · Sep 29, 2020

I’ve printed regularly 20x24 (inches) from 35mm film. All looks fantastic. TMX just doesn’t fall apart.
Even HP5 looks good at 20”x24”.

Everything looks good on 5x7 paper. And there’s no real point in choosing films if you’re going to stop at 5x7. Even TMZ can sometimes be undistinguishable from HP5 at that size.

NB23 · Sep 29, 2020

darkosaric said:
Question fro those that print small prints: how do you do dodging and burning? I find it almost impossible on prints smaller than 20x30cm to do this, due to short exposure times (even at f8-f11), and small areas (for example to dodge eyes on small print).

Thanks,

small prints won’t hit diffraction if you close at f11-16-22... and/or use a smaller bulb.

Also, proper tools for dodging and burning will make it easy. Use a cardboard with small holes and use burning techniques more, and avoid dodging techniques.

It is usually the dodging that goes wrong (at least for me)

SJC1952 · Sep 29, 2020

I do less dodging and burning with split grade printing but the biggest failure with me is dodging. It goes wrong very easily.

What are your film size standards for prints?

Ariston

wiltw

darkosaric

Lachlan Young

Donald Qualls

BradS

RalphLambrecht

faberryman

Alan9940

radiant

koraks

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mooseontheloose

MattKing

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radiant

koraks

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foc

darkosaric

SJC1952

koraks

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halfaman

guangong

Chan Tran

NB23

NB23

SJC1952

What are your film size standards for prints?

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