Printing frame for 6x9 contact printing?

[marck mcgill]

I recently bought a Super Ikonta and I'm looking forward to contact-

print the negatives rather than enlarging them, it feels more "old-

fashioned" to me. The idea I have in mind is to print them on the

postcard-back portfolio Ilford sheets (10x15 cm, I guess), which

would be framed with a very large white border all around.

 

That's easy to say but not to do... Do you know if someone sells a

pre-made printing frame for doing that? Or did you made something at

hand to contact-print your negatives and have some good idea to share

with me? Thanks...

[gary_ferguson1]

You could try Linhof & Studio in the UK who offer a range of good quality contact printing frames.

[robert_davis2]

I doubt that anybody makes a new 6x9 frame. If you look around you might find an old one.

 

It's not too hard to make a frame. High tech they aren't. Glass on one side. A piece of foam under the paper and then a piece of wood.

 

Why use the post card paper for this? If it's framed you aren't putting it in the mail.

[marck mcgill]

Maybe I didn't explain myself well, I apologize. With "framed" I mean that it will be surrounded by a white <i>passepartout</i>: the picture is 6x9 and the paper is 10x15, so...<br><br>And if I just put a glass over it, the risult would be that I will see the frame I actually want to print, plus 1/2 of the previous and next frame, plus all the "Ilford FP4 plus safety film..." etc writings.

[john_shriver]

There are many old Kodak contact printing frames in various sizes on eBay all the time. Hinged wood back with two metal springs. But most sellers have no idea what they are. Some think they are picture frames, some think they are film holders. But they are cheap.

 

Then you just need to cut a 6x9cm mask.

[robert_davis2]

I can visualize what you want to do I just don't understand why the postcard paper and not normal paper? You could use any 5x7 paper and finding a frame to fit 5x7 paper will easier then finding one to fit 10x15cm. Or you could find an 8x10 frame [still being made] and could do a couple of contacts at once on one sheet of 8x10. You won't be able to treat them differently. Then cut them apart when dry.

 

A 6x9 frame will take 6x9 paper.

[mike_elek]

In the 1980s, I made a 6x9 film carrier for my Omega D series enlarger. I used some extra construction material from a shower we installed in our house.<P>

 

I used white fiberglass shower wall. Flat on one side, pebble surface on the other. I measured 6x9 frames on two pieces. Cut both out, sanded the cutouts as flat as I could and then used rivets to hold them in position when placed under the condenser.<P>

 

For the overall shape, I simply traced another negative carrier that I had. But that's something you don't need to worry about. And you only need the one piece. You might be able to make it from plexiglass. Just sand down any rough edges so it won't scratch your negative and then paint it flat black. Give the paint a couple of days to dry.<P>

 

My negative carrier needs to be painted a flat black to cut down reflections, but it otherwise looks good and works fine.<P>

 

Here's the one I made. The line you see probably was a pencil mark from when the shower was built.<P>

 

<center><img src=http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=2298230&size=lg></center>

[david_goldfarb]

Fine Art Photo Supply will make custom print frames if you want something really purpose built for this size (http://www.fineartphotosupply.com/), but I would just use an oversize printing frame (many are available used) and make a mask out of black paper or Rubylith or perhaps high contrast lith film. The lith mask would just require that you cut out a 6x9 square of opaque material--you could even use a discarded neg as a guide--and place it over the film so that it will be centered in the printing frame, expose briefly, and then develop normally in a high-contrast developer, so you'll have a black mask with a clear 6x9 square in the center. You could center the 6x9 neg with the lights on or under safelight and use thick tape or even mounting corners to mark the edges of where the paper should go for a centered print.

[ole_tjugen]

It's very, very simple...

 

Take a pece of black paper or thin cardboard. Cut a hole in it the size of your negative to make a mask. Place paper, negative and mask under a sheet of glass, and expose.

 

I use this for contact-printing 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x9, 9x12 and 4x5" negatives in a half-plate printing frame.

[marck mcgill]

That's fine, but a "thick" black sheet? Then the negative would not be pressed evenly on the photographic paper, wouldn't the picture come out blurred in the center? And what about the glass? No problems if it's not anti-newton rings?

 

@ all others: if you could gently point me to some APPROPRIATE frame on eBay... By searching "contact print frame" all that pops up are crappy digital cameras + vintage porn pictures.

[edhebert]

<p> One source is <a href="http://bostick-sullivan.com/main/frames_page.htm">Bostick and Sullivan</a>. they may not be the cheapest, but they're very well made.</p>

[marck mcgill]

Ed, thanks for the link: a lot of interesting info in there! I've added it to my favourites. The price is not a problem; though, those contact frames come without a 6x9 mask, so we're back to the beginning...

 

I forgot the question "why on a Ilford postcard-type portfolio": because in my country, the early photographers diffusely used postcard-type paper sheets. That would give to my contact prints a vintage "touch" that would recall something to almost everyone here.

[mike_elek]

This is an enlarging easel with a 6x9 frame (I believe).<P>

 

<a href=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3810289536 target=_new><b>See this item on eBay</b></a><P>

 

However, the paper guides for the other frames would pose a problem. But, you could disassemble it, and this would give you a starting point.<P>

 

As far as the negative popping up in the middle: The weight of the frame might be sufficient to press it down flat. You'd really need to test it yourself.<P>

 

Flatness of 120 film seems to vary quite a bit. Some films seem more prone to curling than others.

[ole_tjugen]

I never said "thick"? In fact, I said "paper or thin cardboard"! It doesn't even have to be completely opaque, or even black - it only has to let through less light than the densest part of your negative.

 

Newton rings are a different matter, which can occur regardless of mask thickness.