I recently bought a second (or probably 5th) hand Omega 67xl enlarger with Aristo cold light head. I'd like to check the alignment, but don't know how. Omega sent me users instructions but no information about the alignment question. I'd really appreciate any suggestions that you folks might have. Thanks!

-- Naomi Diamant (nadiamant@aol.com), August 04, 1999

Answers

Hi Naomi, A rough check of alignment can be made with a small circular bubble level from the hardware store. Put the level on the baseboard and shim the feet with cardboard or whatever, until the bubble is centered. Now put the level on the lensboard and negative carrier to see if they are parallel to the baseboard (I don't know if they are accessable on this model). It may be necessary to use a piece of flat glass in the negative carrier slot, if you can't get to it directly. The bubble level method is rough at best, and there are commercial alignment checking tools available (at a price, of course). You might also just focus carefully on a negative and see if all four corners go in and out of focus at the same time. If you really get serious, you can build an alignment tool out of a small laser pointer, but that's a topic for another reply! Good Luck.

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), August 04, 1999.

In not familiar with your model, but I have a newer Omega C760. As suggested by the poster above, make a few large prints (or sections, center and corners of the largest image you can get) first and look at the results closely. If they are sharp corner to corner (assuming you have a decent enlarging lens)worry no further about alignment.

If you have a noticable problem, then you can either return the machine or start working on the alignment. I got a 35mm alignment negative with my enlarger that has a X accross it. I checked the corner to corner sharpness first thing after I set it up and it was fine, so I went no further.

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@worldnet.att.net), August 05, 1999.

You can make a test neg. Use an exposed and developed neg ( the leader works good) and scratch an X in the emultion side. Careful not to scratch so hard you distort the film. Make a test print and evaluate the center and edges.

From "The elements of Black and White Printing" Carson Graves

-- ryan (ryno@bitstream.net), August 05, 1999.

scratching parrallel lines on the neg is better than an "X". This allows to check for barrel and pincushion effects but also sharpness.

-- david strachan (strachan@cww.octec.org.au), August 06, 1999.

One method is to place a negative in your enlarger that was exposed in correct focus with detail from edge to edge. Then stop down your enlarger lense two stops from its widest aperature, since most lenses focus better at these settings. Then use a grain focusing scope of atleast 25x power or higher and with printing paper (as many enlarging easels are painted darker) move the focuser from corner to corner to check if the grains are in focus at all four corners at the same time. If they are, you are blessed with good alignment. If not, your enlarger can be adjusted, but you will need to get a manual.

-- Dan Tyler (tyler.dan@worldnet.att.net), November 08, 1999.