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Old 25th November 2014, 09:58 AM
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Argentum Argentum is offline
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Location: Sceptred Isle
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The limit is determined by the distance from the lens axis to the enlarger column. Then if you have an easel on the baseboard that will take another x inches off that dimension, usually 1 to 4 inches.

So if the distance from lens axis to column is 10 inches minus say 3 inches for easel then you only 7 inches in that direction (from center of print) and therefore 7 inches in other direction. So the max length on short side of print would be 14 inches.

So take a ruler and measure distance from your lens axis to column. Then measure distance of top edge of easel to print area and subtract from lens axis to column distance. Then subtract an extra 1 inch (easel uses this when you open it).

That gives you half of max image height in that direction.

Then the other limiting factor is column height which if its not high enough may mean you need a wide angle lens but I doubt that. 50mm will probably get you max available with your enlarger.

another way of increasing this max size (not yet mentioned by others here) is to use a wall mount for enlarger. This allows you to slide easel edge under the column. But if you are doing this in bathroom that probably isn't practical and wall mounts are rare as hens teeth anyway.

Making your own easel from a piece of wood and spraying wood with lightly tacky glue so that you can place paper right to edge of it can increase the useable distance from lens axis to column by a couple of inches so that means maybe upto 4 inches extra print size. The paper can be peeled off the lghtly tacky easel.

Last edited by Argentum; 25th November 2014 at 10:20 AM.
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