? working with roll paper

[Denis R]

considering buying a roll of paper 1769212 Pearl Rolls 5in x 250ft $95
seems like alot of $$, but 3.5x5 adds up quick

for those of you who have roll paper, how do you store and cut it?

as far as cut sizes, 3.5x5 (B7) and 5x7 (B6) seem obvious
I also have a fondness for 2x3 (A8) which makes business cards, could even make a double lenght card - fold in 1/2 to use as a mini portfolio


my fuzzy logic

3.5x100=350/12=29ft$15
7x100=700/12=58ft$28
250ftx12=3,000in$95
3,000/3.5=857
3,ooo/7=428
95/3,000=.0317
119/3,500=.034$in

8.5x4x5=170

 

[Ian Grant]

Storage is in the original box, like any other paper, I have a Rotartrim which I use to cut what I need, or I just use a sharp blade for larger sizes.

Some print trimmers can take an optional roller feed so you can just cut what you need easily. Keep old paper boxes if you want to cut batches pror to printing.

I have rolls up to 40 inches wide, as well as 8 in ch rolls of Kodak paper, for larger sizes I prefer to cut as I need it, smaller cut in batches.

Ian

 

[David William White]

Last year I snagged two rolls of Ilford Express mg RC 500 ft., one 4" wide and one 5" wide. I think I payed about $40 or $50 each from a lab that was clearing out. They are stored on end, and once in a while I sit one on a lazy susan and spin off what I need onto my flatbed cutter, maybe 25 cuts at a time. Cotton gloves.

I use the 5" roll for 4x5 paper negatives (cutting less than 4" to fit holders) and contact prints, and the 4" roll for standard 4x6 projection prints. I've been thinking about doing really wide multi-negative panoramic prints as well.

It really comes down to price whether it's worth it to you.

 

[Vaughn]

I had a 5" roll of Fuji color paper (RA4) that I sometimes would make 5x10 to 5x20 prints. Running the sheets through the processor I had to be there to guide the paper out of the machine -- its curl made it want to curl back into the machine!

 

[Mike Wilde]

Consider a vacuum easel if you get into larger width paper used cut as sheets on the enlarger baseboard; the curl can be wicked near the middle of the roll. Mine is a DIY affair a friend made, and is powered by a thrift shop vaccuum cleaner motor that sits under the enlarger bench.

 

[2F/2F]

When I have dealt with roll paper, I have cut a quantity at a time, put it in a stack, and placed it in to an old paper box, stuffed as tightly as I could get it. The curl doesn't go away entirely (the paper was very old, so it had been on the roll for decades), but it definitely makes the paper easily workable.

 

[naugastyle]

Is the curl really a problem once you get it into the easel? Does the center still pop up and distort the image? Does it remain curled for a while once you stick it in developer?

Just curious...haven't bought my roll yet.

 

[Mike Wilde]

Yes, at times it does pull up from a 4 bladed easel. My preference is to bleed print (without borders), so for me, the vac was the way to go to combat the curl. My first experience with roll was with Koadk Royal, which has a heavier backing paper. You may be luckier with the paper you start with.

 

[jd callow]

I bought a rollma automatic roll cutter. If I used one paper it stayed in the cutter as the cutter was light tight. Otherwise I put the paper back in its bag and box. If I had a long series of prints in a single size I precut the entire roll. The cutter cost about 200.00 on ebay. Prior to that I had a local lab cut the roll down for me or I created a cutting jig with stops fro the desired sizes. All in all rolls are the only way to go for me. Most of my negs are not proportioned like cut sheets. I shoot mostly 6x6, with the remainder divided between 6x8 and 4x5. 4x5 being the only size that fits nicely into the boxed sheets.

Mine is the middle one, 32 inches, fully programmable (x, y cutting, speed, quantity and of course size):

I couldn't find a better picture sorry.

 

[naugastyle]

Are those black bags photo paper comes in (inside the box) sold separately, or are you just storing your cut paper in old boxes/bags?

I'm currently only planning to use 4" roll paper (for 4x6 prints)...the curl @ the center of each sheet would probably be less a problem at 4x6 size, right? Although I imagine near the end of the roll it's still curly as hell.

 

[jd callow]

Roll paper comes in a bag (often open at both ends for the wide rolls) and a often a double box. It is always a good idea to save your old sheet boxes and bags even if you don't cut rolls, but especially if you do. I print RA4 and curl has never been a problem on the roller transport processors I've used,and I also use bladed easels. In paper processors flex (plastic based paper) is a problem curl or not.

 

[richard ide]

Ocassionally I have had to take the curl out of paper from a roll. If you do it carefully, there are no stress marks which develop.
I have used a piece of 1/4" acrylic and also a steel straightedge. Put the paper cut to length upside down on a clean smooth table and place the straightedge across the sheet allowing enough space to grip the end of the piece with your hand. Pull the paper up at about a 45 degree angle and exert a little pressure. At the same time slide the strightedge towards the other end of the sheet. If necessary, reverse the sheet to do the other end. It is easier to do than explain. Most of the paper I did it to was 42" 50" or 55" wide and up to 16' long. You can also just pull it over the edge of a table.

 

[naugastyle]

Thanks, guys.