contact printing frame

[frank_doering]

I am having problems with 8x10 contact prints. Because of

Newton rings, I replaced the glass on a Paterson contact printer

with ANR glass. This is slighly thicker than the original glass and

thus receives higher pressure from the foam bed below. As a

result, the glass bends, creating a gap between paper and

negative right in the middle of the print, which results in

noticeable loss of sharpness compared to the edges. Question:

What is a good contact printing frame for someone haunted by

Newton rings? (I seem to have read something at some point

about a frame with an inflateable bubble under the glass.)

Thanks for your help.

[r.l.__mac__mcdonald]

Frank,

 

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A few years back, I purchased a frame from Bostick & Sullivan, it

seems to work fine. A bit High Priced but what isn't nowadays. I

also have two beat up Eastman frames that seem to work fine. Check

your pressure, less may be better. You may want to replace the Foam

with Felt. Also look at the individual parts (contrary to popular

belief glass is NOT always flat) and check for warpage of all

components. And it sounds like you may not be getting even pressure

across the frame, this may be a design problem. I'm not familiar

with the Paterson so I may be all wet on this.

 

<p>

 

Mac

[sal_santamaura]

Frank, your answer is in the archives. See this thread:

 

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http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=003JwH

 

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and, if you're not interested in what it took to get there, see my

final post at the end for a solution.

[frank_doering]

Thanks for your suggestions. (Note: my Newton rings came from

between the glass and the film, not from between film and

paper.) I'll try one of the older frame designs.

[dan_smith]

In addition to Bostick & Sullivan take a good look at contact frames

from Great Basin photo. Very nicely made. Pricey??? Not if you

condsider you grandchildren will still be using them. You do get what

you pay for. The well made contact printers will most likely outlast

all of us.

[jorge_gasteazoro3]

I think the best deal to be had is the contact printers by

Photgraphers formulary, they have great prices and well made too...

[alex_weiner1]

I have been using 8x10 frame from Photographer's Formulary for several months. Well made and no

problems thus far.

[tim_atherton2]

I ordered one fromt the Photographers Formulary, but I just haven't

got around to using it yet this winter! (not enough light up here in

winter for POP...) Nicely made (not fancy, but sturdy), good price,

and what's really nice is they make them a bit bigger than the actual

size - so and 8x10 frame is actually about an inch or so bigger all

round. Means you don't have to keep going a size bigger.