Getting The Image Straight

<p>Hello, so one of the only problems I tend to run into, that unfortunately makes me waste not only time, but money on paper as well, is that fact that I can't seem to get the image straight. <br /><br />Does anyone have some tips on getting the print to come out straighter? My borders are usually spot on you can just tell the horizon is always slightly off with the top and bottom borders.<br>

Any help or tips on how you guys go about getting this perfected will be awesome and much appreciated! </p>

<p>You could always pencil in some horizontal lines on your baseboard so that when you're focusing the negative you will have some reference lines to go on; this assumes that you have established a standard placement for your easel.</p>

<p>generally I have a decent 'eye' for setting the easel but sometimes use a ruler and measure from horizon to easel edge. I've always just done it without any marks but Stephen raise an interesting technique that I hadn't considered and will employ, however I'll use the back of an old print in the easel to draw on.</p>

<p>Also, you can open the lens up and/or remove filtration to be able to see what your doing better. Just remember to re-apply! </p>

<p>The easel/masking frame I use has a kind of clamping action which holds the paper securely when the arms are dropped so that it is square to the frame itself if you put it in right! After that it's just a question of lining up the negative image with the arms to get it square with the paper. Perhaps I've misunderstood the problem though.<br>

Re-reading your post, are you talking of taking pictures that are level? If your camera has interchangeable focusing screens then a grid pattern might be of value.</p>

<p>If the question was about printing, it should be in the printing forum.</p>

<p>With negatives, you, if you do your own printing, can fix it when you print them.<br>

<br />If you have someone else do it, they might not have an option for small rotations.</p>

<p>For slide photography, you get better at holding the camera level, when it matters.<br>

If you can't see it isn't level, then others should also not see it.</p>

<p>Not sure about your question.<br /> If you mean how to get the horizon straight in a print, I simply use a white developed sheet on the easel, and use the bottom blade to align the horizon, it should be in line with it. After that I can move the blade to the bottom border. Obviously with the lens wide open and with full light power.<br /> After this, I focus, set the aperture, switch off the light, replace the sheet with an unexposed one, and so on. <br /> It is a good idea to draw some lines or marks in the auxiliary sheet of paper for different purposes.</p>

<p>If you are talking about getting the horizon straight when making a print, that's simple. What I do is slide the easel up or down on the baseboard until the horizon line is along the top edge of the easel. I rotate the easel however much is necessary so that the horizon line is straight in relation to the edge of the easel. Then I carefully move the easel back up so that the composition is correct, keeping the horizon line straight in relation to the easel edge. Then I finalize focus, turn off the enlarger, put the paper in and expose the print.<br /><br />In addtion to horizon lines, this can be done with any straight edge that is important in the picture -- the roof of a building, a fence, etc. Can also be done with vertical lines by aligning them with the side of the easel instead of the top.<br /><br />Been doing this for decades.</p>

Thank you everyone for your responses! I found some useful tips that I will be looking forward to trying in class this week!