What's your favourite paper size?

xtolsniffer · May 29, 2008

Since getting an enlarger a year or so ago, I've been experimenting with different paper sizes. I can enlarge to 12"x16" on my LPL 6700, and used to use mostly 35mm, but now increasingly I'm using 6x7 negatives. After zipping up to the 'big is best' mentality, then down to the 'small and intimate' I seem to have gravitated naturally to printing at 7"X5" on 10"x8" paper. The print seems big enough, and the 1.5" border all round seems to work. I was curious as to whether you feel you have gravitated to a certain size or style of printing. I still print bigger and smaller, but this size seems 'right' for me.

MarcoGiardini · May 29, 2008

i print mainly on 30x40 (cm) paper. Seldom on bigger 40x50 paper.

marco

panastasia · May 29, 2008

5"x7" for 35mm; up to 14"x17" for medium format. I never found a need to print larger (for larger viewing distances).

Paul

xtolsniffer · May 29, 2008

I did once get a commercial lab to print up a 6x7 transparency to 30"x40" for a really big poster print for my kitchen. It was lovely, but you had to stand more than 3m away to appreciate it!

david b · May 29, 2008

For me, I love printing on 11x14 paper. I think 9x9 squares look fantastic.

thefizz · May 29, 2008

12" x 9.5" is what I print at mostly. Its a decent enough size but not too big.

Uncle Bill · May 29, 2008

8x10 is my standard size.

Paul Howell · May 29, 2008

11X14 and 12X16 when I can get it.

fschifano · May 29, 2008

6 x 9 inch images from 35 mm negatives on 8 x 10 paper unless I want to crop to a different aspect ratio. Medium format to 11 x 14. Bigger to me is not necessarily better.

Andrew Moxom · May 29, 2008

My regular print size is 7x7 square onto 8x10 paper for general prints, and then I go up in size if I want to or if someone else wants me to. I can process up to 16x20 with equipment and trays I have, but rarely go that large.

r-brian · May 29, 2008

I, too, can print up to 16x20. But mostly I use 11x14 paper. That way I can print 8x12 from 35mm negs, 10x10 from 6x6 negs, and 11x14, with a slight border, from 4x5 negs. The 16x20 paper is for 4x5 negatives when I want to print a grand landscape that works in a larger size.

Some images need to be printed small, some images need to be printed big. I'm biased torwards big landscapes, mainly because I hung around Clyde Butcher for a while and got corrupted.

Ole · May 29, 2008

thefizz said:
12" x 9.5" is what I print at mostly. Its a decent enough size but not too big.

Same here, except that I call it 24x30cm. The print look a lot larger than 8x10", even if they're only a little bit bigger. Subtract the margins, and my prints on 24x30cm paper are only a cm or so larger than those I make on 8x10" paper. But the visual difference is enourmous!

Vaughn · May 29, 2008

Up until the mid 1990's I made 16x20's (actually 15x19 image area) from 4x5 negs -- though my medium format negs looked good as 15x15 prints, too (Pan X developed in Microdol-X 1:3, but that was years ago.) I like the viewing distance one has with 16x20 prints, yet they still invite one to come close. Now I contact with alt processes.

But if I was to make a silver gelatin print these days, I would likely go with 12x15 prints from 4x5 negs (on 16x20 paper --- they would mount up nicely on 20x24 mat board/frame).

Vaughn

Rich Ullsmith · May 29, 2008

I'm falling in love with 5X7. Big enough to get the idea, small enough to process easily. Print two on the same 8X10 by masking half the sheet and rotating it in the easel.

Rob Archer · May 29, 2008

Until recently, all my 'serious' prints were done on 12 X 16 In paper, on the basis that 'a good print is worth doing BIG!'. However, since getting invovlved in APUG I've downsized to 91/2 X 12 - mainly because it's the biggest I can get in my flatbed scanner. It also has the benefit of being a lot cheaper!

I've now started doing print exchanges, which are usually 10 X 8 so I'm considering making that my standard size now. I'm also thinking of re-printing my portfolio on 10 x 8, as 20 mounted 12 x 16s are a lot to lug about - particularly as I don't have regular use of a car.

On the other had theres something about a really good 20 X 16 landscape.......!

I used to be indecisive - but now I'm not so sure!

Rob

nworth · May 30, 2008

I'm a medium format type, for the most part, and I find 11X14 the most comfortable size for what I do. That's the key - for what I do. 35mm sometimes doesn't work that big, especially if you didn't use a tripod (8X10 is usually OK). For many purposes, 5X7 is an outstanding print size - it's portable, sharp, easy to make, easy to handle, but many galleries wont touch anything less than 16X20. 8X10 (or sometimes 5X7) seems to work best for albums and photobooks. What do you want?

Ian Grant · May 30, 2008

16"x12" upwards, but 90% of my prints are made on this size paper.

Ian

Glenn M · May 30, 2008

Favorite paper size... 17" rolls. Most prints, except test prints, run 16" minimum dimension (mainly 16x20 or 16x24).

dfoo · May 30, 2008

The paper I buy here locally here is 10x12 or 5x7. On 10x12 I normally print true 8x10 for 35mm, or 9x9 for 6x6 negatives. I often print the 35mm on 5x7, with a 5mm border. Looks great!

Sino · May 30, 2008

I like small paper sizes. My favourite is 13x18cm. I like having the ability to see the print as a whole.

-Sino.

Chazzy · May 30, 2008

Saunders makes an easel that will take 14x17 paper, and I have always wondered where that paper is available. I've never seen it. Is that something sold in the UK? Freestyle does have 12x16 paper, fortunately.

mealers · Jun 10, 2008

I usually print my favorite negs from a roll as straight work prints onto 7x7, I then look at them for a couple days deciding which will print best and then print my favourite 1 or 2 at 11x11 size.
Being able to print 7x7's to show on APUG just doesnt give me the same satisfaction as holding a 11x11 in my hand.

xtolsniffer · Jun 10, 2008

I actually did a little 5"x3.5" print of my baby daughter last night for a small photo frame, and from a 6x7 negative, that looks really sharp. I actually find it more awkward to print small, shorter exposure times make it difficult to burn and dodge. That print was 6 seconds at f16 on an 80mm componon s, which is a little short for me!

modafoto · Jun 10, 2008

I like 13x18 cm and 18x24 cm(often cut to 13x13 and 18x18 for Holgashots).
I also do 9x9 cm. Holga prints.

Otherwise I like 30x40 cm.

hywel · Jun 10, 2008

xtolsniffer said:
I actually did a little 5"x3.5" print of my baby daughter last night for a small photo frame, and from a 6x7 negative, that looks really sharp. I actually find it more awkward to print small, shorter exposure times make it difficult to burn and dodge. That print was 6 seconds at f16 on an 80mm componon s, which is a little short for me!

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What's your favourite paper size?

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