Why use an easel?

Ko.Fe. · Jul 11, 2016

Most of my paper isn't flat.
I don't print from square as square and I have printed more than once.

DREW WILEY · Jul 11, 2016

Gosh. This is like arguing you don't need to wear sox with shoes. Well, there's no law that says you have to, but if you don't like blisters...

Bill Burk · Jul 11, 2016

Susan J., it looks like you have made a good move by getting a highly recommended easel.

Vaughn · Jul 12, 2016

jnanian said:
hi doremus -
i contact print with thick glass, or glass in a contact frame and i from time to time have to "dodge the scratches" i know what you mean !
i am sure degradaton of quality probably helps my photography in the long run, i love shooting through a dirty window after all

thanks again
john

Except for scratches and dust, clear glass should not affect the quality of contact prints. Passing an already-formed image through a sheet of glass is a different beasty (ie the negative thru a lens -- and then thru the sheet glass to the paper). You will need to find another method to further degrade your images!

Jim Jones · Jul 12, 2016

As Doremus noted in post #21, window glass may have irregularities that corrupt contact prints. Some of these are not visible to our eyes. I've long used one such sheet for contact printing small negatives as records. Variations in density that would ruin a finished print don't matter in this application.

Doremus Scudder · Jul 16, 2016

Jim,
I, too, have a wonky sheet of 1/4-inch window glass that I use for contact printing 4x5 negs for record only (the contact sheets get filed with the negatives for reference). The "wave" in the glass leaves always leaves a distorted area in one corner. No problem, as these are not for display. Better quality glass is needed for making contact prints for display, though.

AgX · Jul 17, 2016

I have a hard time thinking about when I last saw wavy glass. Most were window panes more than 80 years old.

CMoore · Jul 17, 2016

Sorry if i missed it in my search, but.....what kind of glass do you need in the darkroom, when printing something more important than a contact sheet.?
Thank You

Sirius Glass · Jul 18, 2016

Window glass is sufficient. Tempered glass is less fragile and a bit heavier. Have the edges smoothed.

CMoore · Jul 18, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Window glass is sufficient. Tempered glass is less fragile and a bit heavier. Have the edges smoothed.

Am i reading things wrong.?
Posts 21 and 30 seem to be saying the opposite of what you are.
Would not be the first time members on a Forum have disagreed, but.....i have a local glass company, if i am going to have them cut me some glass, should i go ahead and ask for a certain Type/Quality...or just have them get me a certain size that has been tempered.?
Thank You

RichardJack · Jul 19, 2016

Hi,
An easel is a necessary item for enlarging. It is important to hold paper flat and have an area to preview your image. I have many easels, borderless Omega's, a vacuum easel, and many home made from 1/4" aluminum jig sheets to sizes 20x30". I made some specialty easels that allowed me to expose 4 separate 4x5"s on a single 8x10". This was very useful when printing color since I used various size drums instead of trays for processing. It often served for color test strips and proof sheets. There are special easels for making proof sheets from 35mm & 120. They print text allowing labeling.
Rick

FYI: I don't think I've wet printed in years, but intend to get back into my darkroom.

Deardorff5x7 · Jul 19, 2016

A simple solution if you are using one size paper in a session or generally is to use a corner square and put down a good corner of tape to butt the paper to. This assures it is in the same location on the baseboard each time.
Then cut a mat board as if you are matting and framing the print. Lay it over the paper. If you have some weight to it the paper will stay flat unless it is really curled.

Simple and repeatable.

If you want feathered borders you can cut a mat board just a touch smaller than the image area and raise the mat board a few millimeters or more above the paper surface. Have the bottom mat board with a larger opening holding the paper down and the smaller opening mat board on top. Different heights above the paper surface will give you different feathering at the edge of your image.

DREW WILEY · Jul 19, 2016

You don't need an easel any more than you need air in your tires. Just depends how even a ride you like. I like both my ride and my paper even.

Why use an easel?

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