What size do you print at?

Doug Hook · Nov 7, 2006

I normally use 8x10" paper with roughly a 1cm border, fine for 35mm negs and this is fine for the way in which prints are used. I'm limited to this size due to a creaky enlarger; sometimes I think it would be nice to see the visual impact of some larger prints and one day I'll make that investment. For the time being, it's 8x10".

Jim Chinn · Nov 8, 2006

My max currently for enlarging is 11x14 but will go larger with contact prints. I do notice at art festivals that the print sizes get bigger and bigger. The last one I was at I saw color inkjets in the 50"x60" range and larger as well as some B&W digital approaching that size. Of the two traditionalists present they only went up to 16x20.

removed account4 · Nov 8, 2006

hi matti

i like to print smaller prints.
when i say smaller, i mean it fits on a 8x10 sheet of paper ( or smaller).
that doesn't mean that i don't print larger ...
i also print onto 11x14 paper, and for a while there i was printing on 16x20 too. i have a portfolio of images that i sent out to a lab for printing, the people who wanted the images were of the mindset that bigger is better, so i ponied-up the cash and had it all printed on 16x20.

--- all that said, there is something about a small photograph that i have grown to like.

-john

fschifano · Nov 9, 2006

I usually print pretty small compared to today's de facto standars. Eight by ten is pretty common for me, with a few prints at 11x14. The larger prints are never from 35mm negatives. I feel that you give up too much quality at that size from such a small negative. I'd consider making 16x20 prints from 4x5 negatives, but the budget won't allow the investment for an easel that large just yet. 'Course I could rig something up to work, but it would be inconvenient and very fiddly compared to a real 4 bladed easel.

timeUnit · Nov 10, 2006

I find that there are "optimum" print sizes for 35 mm, depending on the film used. I shoot mainly HP5 in 35mm, and the grain/tonality looks absolutely best on a 9.5 x 12 / 24 x 30 cm paper with a 1.5 inch / 3 cm border. I like a tight grainy look. I recently printed a 35 mm shot on 16 x 20 paper, and it looks OK, but the grain is a bit mushy.

From MF I can not find grain on some shots when enlarged on 12 x 16 paper. Some have a healthy dose of grain at that size, say if shot on 400 film.

JohnArs · Nov 10, 2006

Hi my most used format is 12x16 inch about 70% then
2. is 8x10 at 20%
the rest is somewhere between the 2 and very seldom a bit larger then 12x16
Armin

nc5p · Nov 10, 2006

5x7 and 8x10. I want to get an 11x14 easel because I do like that size but have to send those out.

THardy · Nov 12, 2006

I print no larger than 11x14, because my Nova processor only takes prints up to that size. I usually only print 6x6 or 6x7.

The enlarger can take 16x20in on the baseboard, and extreme enlargements by turning the head 90 degrees to project on the wall, but I would need very large trays or process the paper in the bathtub!

trhull · Nov 12, 2006

Print sizes

I print 5X5 image size on 8x10 and 11X14 paper

8X8 on 11X14 and 16X20 paper

15X15 on 16X20 paper

I prefer to print to larger size paper than the image as the paper I use gets a little wavy on the edges no matter what I do. It is then easy to cut off the slight curl having a flat print for mounting. I don't dry mount.

Weldon · Nov 13, 2006

35mm - 8x10
6x6 - 11x14 and 16x20

All with borders as I don't drymount. I love some of my stuff at the larger size but, it is more work. My easle will only handle up to 16x20, same with my trays. I would love to try 20x24 for some 6x6 stuff but, can't afford the easle/trays...maybe one day.

matti · Nov 13, 2006

So a lot of people seems to print smaller than I though.
Today I bought 100 sheets of Forte Polygrade Warmtone in 8x10 to use for 35 mm and some 6x4.5.
I like pictures where a lot of things are happening. Some of them might need larger prints. (But unfortunately I seem unable to take these pictures where a lot of people are interacting in an interesting way and a little fox is looking right into the camera from the lower right corner of the picture.)
I will also save my larger paper for some MF work that really can handle it and for contact printing my 18x24 cm negatives.

/matti

roteague · Nov 13, 2006

I like to print at 30x40 or larger, but framing them is a beast.

naturephoto1 · Nov 13, 2006

roteague said:
I like to print at 30x40 or larger, but framing them is a beast.

Hi Robert,

I'll say. My friend (a custom framer) and I will work together to frame up to that size (normally print to 30" X 37.5" to stay on the Chromira machine). Beyond that, if anyone wants them, I will have to find someone else to do the framing. I do not wish to attempt to frame larger than that. I will be happy to sell the image larger however.

Rich

Phillip P. Dimor · Nov 15, 2006

My old darkroom I could have done 16x20 easily.
When I had that 500ft. roll of 5" Kodak Polycontrast.. I printed a lot of 5x7's.
Now, I print 8x10's mostly. My enlarger can't do 11x14 from a 645 negative.
I have to somehow raise the column and it's a PITA.

Now that I have about 1400ft of 3.5 polycontrast, I think i'll be making a lot of smaller prints. Whenever I get around to it.

jlehmus · Nov 17, 2006

I print almost eveything on 24x18cm paper because it's the largest size that fits into my easel. I print full frame, but like to use the easel to ease the handling of the paper. Usually I'm also trimming somewhat the irregular border from my filed neg holder.

24x18cm is the ideal size for the wet line, but I'm also sometimes printing on postcard size or 30x24cm paper when someone wants a print, and for display purposes.

I'm only printing 35mm negs currently, as my medium-format enlargers are very poor.

Samuel Hotton · Nov 17, 2006

Half frame 35= 4x6 inch
35mm color neg = If the subject matter is REALLY colorful and BOLD 2 3/4 x4 1/4 inches. The MAJORITY of color print is 4x6 inches OCCASIONALLY 5x7 inches. RARELY 8x10 inches. Two or three per year are good enough for 11x14.
35mm B&W neg = usually 5x7, rarely 8x10
6x6cm= 8x8 inches usually
6x9cm= usually contact print, or when enlarged 11x14 inches
4x5 inch= 8x10 or 16x20 inch
5x7 inch= contact or 16x20
8x10 inch= contact.
Most importantly= whatever the job requires OR the customer is paying for. I generally do not like the look of a negative enlarged more than 5x or 6x.
I think that a properly executed contact print is a "Thing of beauty to behold". Purity of image.
I feel too many people adhere to the old saying "If you can't make them good, then make them big". It is easy to display a 30x40 inch print matted and framed that will cause a head to turn and attract attention BECAUSE it is BIG. The skill is to be able to create a miniature print so bold, with such simple composition and strength in a size between 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" and NO LARGER than 3 1/4" x4 1/4" that will command attention from across a gallery, and visually DEMAND and COMPEL the viewer to come closer to see the magic.

Sam H.

roteague · Nov 17, 2006

Samuel Hotton said:
I feel too many people adhere to the old saying "If you can't make them good, then make them big". It is easy to display a 30x40 inch print matted and framed that will cause a head to turn and attract attention BECAUSE it is BIG.

It is expensive to produce a matted and framed 30x40, as well as taking skill. I've seen prints that shouldn't have been printed that size, but they were few and far between - simply because of the effort and costs associated with printing that size. I've also seen contact printers dismiss large prints, simply because they don't like or do them.

pgomena · Nov 27, 2006

I like to keep my prints on the small-to-medium end of the scale. 35mm to a maximum of 5x7, 6x6 to maximum 10x10, 4x5" to 11x14, occasionally to 16x20 if someone wants a print that large. I just feel the image starts to lose that "glow" when it gets too big.

Peter Gomena

rst · Nov 27, 2006

jlehmus said:
... 24x18cm is the ideal size for the wet line, ...

I think it is also the perfect size to look through a pile of photographs when sitting together with friends.

Regards
Ruediger

ronlamarsh · Nov 28, 2006

print size

I usually print to a size that allows me to maintain the sharpness I need to feel good about the print. That said; with my 6x9 camera I find a 6"x9" print on 8x10 paper works beautifully maybe its just the format? 4x5 negs I usually print to 12X16 or crop to 6.5X16 or 10x16 which ever suits the image. 5X7 negs I usually contact print as I love contact prints, occasionally I'll do a 16X20 from a 4x5 or 5x7 but it is rare as I hate handling large paper like that plus all the extra developer needed etc,etc,etc. I rarely do 35mm anymore but am trying to get back to doing some as it is so handy to use, I would probably stick to doing a 6"x9" print from a 35 also.

photographs42 · Dec 6, 2006

Print size depends on a lot of things, not the least of which is subject matter. The majority of my images work best at large sizes but some are better if kept small. Several years ago I started printing large (24”x30” and 24”x36”) prints and they continue to be very popular. I think part of the reason is the WOW factor but beyond that, a 24x30 matted and framed to 34x40 is large enough to command a space above a sofa or credenza where it might take several smaller images in a grouping to accomplish the same thing. Because of that, I have sold a lot of work for use in offices or commercial buildings where smaller pieces just don’t have enough impact.

My negatives are all 4x5 or 5x7 so the grain/sharpness factor is seldom an issue. My darkroom can handle up to 20x24 in trays and about 20 years ago I built my first developing tube for larger prints from plastic sewer pipe. I still use it but I have since acquired a Kodak tube that does up to 30x40.

I do sell a lot of 8x10’s (that is about as small as I go) but I hate making them. My first print from a new negative is usually a 16x20. I feel that at that size I can judge the tonal scale etc. better than on a smaller print.

Jerome

Edwardv · Dec 9, 2006

What an education. In my younger days I always had problems deciding on image and paper size. It wasn't until 1992 when I started printing 6x6 negatives that I learned that 11x14 paper was the perfect size for viewing, being intimate, and for impact. The image size ranged anywhere from 10x10 to 10x13 which was very nice. I even made some larger images from 15x15 to 15x19 on 16x20 paper and they still were fine. For the images printed on 11x14 paper framing was 13x13, 14x17 or 16x20 nice sizes for hanging on walls with limited space. For the larger images framing was 19x19 to 20x24.

Thanks to all for sharing.

michael9793 · Dec 11, 2006

I print 8x10, 11x14, 8x20,16x20,20x24. negative sizes are 35mm,2 1/4,4x5, 8x10,8x20

MJA

Thanasis · Dec 14, 2006

I've only ever enlarged 35mm and I go for 8x10 size. Ocassionally I go higher but only with a very sharp transparency.

Woolliscroft · Dec 15, 2006

It depends what the print is for. For the wall, 12 x 16 or occasionally 16 x 20 paper used full neg (35mm or 6 x 7) and trimmed. More usually for file copies imprint size or 8 x 10.

David.

What size do you print at?

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