Intrepid new compact enlarger

[Terrywoodenpic]

I have been in dozens of darkrooms and never seen that. It is so obvious you would think it was universal.
However I never had a problem getting them straight either. I have used enlargers with a full set of tilts as well where such an aid would have been a help. I can't even recall seeing a commercial printing easel marked with a grid. Though those for graphic use usually had concentric squares for laying up artwork centrally.

 

[Asha]

I have been in dozens of darkrooms and never seen that. It is so obvious you would think it was universal.
However I never had a problem getting them straight either. I have used enlargers with a full set of tilts as well where such an aid would have been a help. I can't even recall seeing a commercial printing easel marked with a grid. Though those for graphic use usually had concentric squares for laying up artwork centrally.

Flipin’ ‘eck...... I should have patented it before posting

I came up with the idea earlier today whilst looking at the grid lines on a groundglass which of course help with verticals during composure.

These light bulb moments don’t come to me often but when they do they are brighter than Brian’s flashgun

 

[Asha]

My comment about marking the grid lines on an easel.......in hindsight I’m wondering if that might pose a problem.
I ask myself , could the lines, with the light from the enlarger, find themselves superimposed into the print especially with some of the thinner RC papers

 

[MrDrizz]

Maybe put in on paper of the same thickness of the print paper. Then you can also check focus [emoji1745]

 

[Asha]

Maybe put in on paper of the same thickness of the print paper. Then you can also check focus [emoji1745]

Some people use a sheet of paper the same thickness to focus to. Others simply focus on the easel.
I’ve tried both and noticed no difference in the focus sharpness of the print.
F/11 on the lens seems to offer sufficient dof to cover any discrepancies be it on 10x8 or 12x16 prints.
I might add that I have no idea how much dof is offered at F/11

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

My comment about marking the grid lines on an easel.......in hindsight I’m wondering if that might pose a problem.
I ask myself , could the lines, with the light from the enlarger, find themselves superimposed into the print especially with some of the thinner RC papers

I do not think it would be a problem as I have used vey badly marked masking frames with out the least sign of a problem.

 

[StephenM]

If marks on the easel are transferred to the print, would that not imply that light was being reflected back from easel to paper and causing fogging?

Is this a possibility and the reason my Photon Beard 4 blade easel is all black?

 

[Peter B]

Flipin’ ‘eck...... I should have patented it before posting

I came up with the idea earlier today whilst looking at the grid lines on a groundglass which of course help with verticals during composure.

These light bulb moments don’t come to me often but when they do they are brighter than Brian’s flashgun

My comment about marking the grid lines on an easel.......in hindsight I’m wondering if that might pose a problem.
I ask myself , could the lines, with the light from the enlarger, find themselves superimposed into the print especially with some of the thinner RC papers

Some people use a sheet of paper the same thickness to focus to. Others simply focus on the easel.
I’ve tried both and noticed no difference in the focus sharpness of the print.
F/11 on the lens seems to offer sufficient dof to cover any discrepancies be it on 10x8 or 12x16 prints.
I might add that I have no idea how much dof is offered at F/11

A bit OT, but I think you can relax Asha, since I'm pretty sure the inventor of the Quadro Ten Eight easel didn't make a fortune.



The USP of this was that you used it to make four 5x4 test prints on a single sheet of 10x8 paper by moving the paper around a fixed area.