[LargeFormat] Large format printing.

[rstein]

Dear Sarah,

     The art of large format printing is to get all the receipts together
from your purchase of the camera, lenses, enlarger, processor - if any, and
consumables and shred them. Once you suppress just how much the bits cost
and stop comparing them to 35mm practise you can appreciate the joys of the
larger negatives.

    Play with B/W first - you can process the paper in trays and wash it in
the bathtub. Remember that all the formulae and equivalence tables that
allow you to use a dichroic head to print variable contrast paper are worth
less than one pack of Ilford Multigrade filters and a pair of scissors. The
secret of life is found in 3 drawers - underwear, socks, and filters.

    Get a good lens. See Ctein's book on Post Exposure for a ranking table
of good lenses. If in doubt use Schneider, Rodenstock, or Nikkor - 135mm
will cover 4 x 5 if you don't want to bend the negative too much.

    Glassless carriers and thick films do an adequate job of negative
holding - if you venture off into thin whippy films you might need a glass
carrier. These are issued with a small plastic bag full of dust that you
scatter over the negative and the glass plates ensure that nothing is lost.
You will eventually begin to recognise some of the dust balls as old friends
and artistic statements.

    Store your negatives in plastic sleeves - avoid the tight ones as they
tend to scratch. Label the negs carefully as they tend to sneak away when
you turn your back.

    When in doubt you can pencil in retouching marks on the emulsion side of
a B/W negaitve and then steam it slightly to set the pencil lead. Be
discrete with the retouching or your work will start to look like Manasse or
Photoshop.

    When you do get a good negative, blow it up BIG and then roll up the
print and use it to whack the next digital smartypants who wants to brag
about pixels.

    Uncle Dick

PS: Remember that you CAN do it in large format!