Enlarger to cover whole area of the paper

[steve_johnston9]

<p>When using an enlarger, I never seem to be able to get the photo to cover the whole area of the paper (8X10). There always seems to be white parts. I am a novice in this area any help would be appreciated.</p>

[ann_clancy6]

<p>which enlarger? which lens? we really need more infomration</p>

<p>It sounds as if the condensor head is not in the correct position to cover the paper.</p>

[christer_almqvist2]

<p>Push the enlarger head further up!</p>

<p>Use double sided sticky tape to temporarily fix the paper to the base board ! !</p>

[derek_kennedy]

<p>Need a dif lens too</p>

[Alan Marcus]

<p>If the enlarger is elevated to its highest position and the projected image on the baseboard is too small for your paper size; you need to increase the magnification even more. There are a couple of ways to do this.</p>

<p>Best is to purchase a shorter enlarger lens. Most enlargers come with only one enlarger lens. Each enlarger lens has engraved on the barrel, the focal length in millimeters. First, take a look at your and read this value.</p>

<p>Enlargers that are designed especially for 35mm film come fitted with a 50mm focal length lens. Enlargers that accept bigger film sizes will come with a lens that is designed to cover the biggest film size that it can accommodate.</p>

<p>If your enlarger accepts 120 square films, the lens supplied will be 75mm or perhaps 80mm. If it accepts 120 rectangular films, the lens supplied will be 100mm.</p>

<p>My guess is, you are shooting 35mm film and your enlarger accepts 120 square films and the lens you have measures 75mm. If true, you need to buy a 50mm enlarger lens and your problem will be solved.</p>

<p>If you are not in a position to buy a shorter lens, you can still make big enlargements. Most enlargers slide up and down a column attached to the baseboard. Most enlargers can be detached from the column and reattached backwards. If you can do this, place the enlarger on a bench or table so the head projects the image onto the floor. You will need to put heavy objects on the baseboard to keep the enlarger from tipping over. If you succeed, you can project on the floor. This increased projection distance will give you the magnification you need. If the height is now too great, you can elevate position of where the easel will be by placing it on a stack of books or on a chair. You can do this and save some money but a shorter lens is the easiest way.</p>

<p>As an alternative, most enlarger heads will rotate and project on a wall. This is just another way of increasing the projection distance. If you use this method, you must tape a white target on the wall to focus and compose on. Also, you must use double stick tape to stick your photo paper to the wall. If the enlarger head will not rotate, you can affix a mirror near the lens and direct the projecting light so it falls on the wall. Any mirror will do but ordinary mirrors have the silvering on the back side of glass, this will distort the projected image somewhat. Best results are had when we use a first surface mirror (one with the silvering on the top of the glass.</p>

<p>Tell us you enlarger type and the lens you have and the film size and we will give more detailed advise.</p>

[bgelfand]

<p>If you are enlarging 35mm negatives to 8x10, you will either have to crop or the negative will not fill the paper. The two aspect ratios are not the same. 35mm has a 2x3 aspect ratio.</p>

<p>The only two negative sizes I know that will exactly fill and 8x10 peice of paper is 4x5 or 8x10 sheet film.</p>

[austin_luse]

<p>Ok, theres a few things you haven't told us.</p>

<p>First: what kind of enlarger are you using?<br>

Second: what kind of easel?<br>

Third: what film format (120, 35mm, 4x5, 16mm, etc.)?<br>

Fourth: what enlarger lens?<br>

and Fifth: tell us your procedure for focusing/sizing the projected image.</p>

<p>then, we can help you out. Im not quite sure if the white is there do to the easel, or do to the enlarger not being able to project up to 8x10, so that's where we need to start. </p>