-- The idea is obvious: to get rid of glass and to keep the film flat the carrier can slightly stretch the film. It seems to be especially useful in medium and large format enlargers (6x6, 4"x5", ... 8"x10"...). I'm just wonder was this idea ever implemented?

-- Andrey Vorobyov (AndreyVorobyov@yahoo.com), November 22, 2001

Answers

Yes. There was a thread about it in the LF forum a few weeks ago.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), November 22, 2001.

Beseler makes device that does just that for 4*5 anyway - the Negaflat. I made a flat plastic adaper to use one with an Omega D3. It works quite well and with the thick film substrate and levels of tension there is no wrinkling. The only problem is that the grippers that actually grab the film damage the emulsion and also generate a bit of debris.

I don't know if Beseler (or anyone else) makes bigger ones.

Cheers,

Duane

-- Duane K (dkucheran@creo.com), November 22, 2001.

Zone VI also makes 4x5 and 5x7 carriers like this for their enlargers.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), November 22, 2001.

Pete, Duane, Ed thank you!

-- Andrey Vorobyov (AndreyVorobyov@yahoo.com), November 23, 2001.

I have used the negaflat for 4x5 & it works well but it scratches the film along two edges as it pulls the negs tight. This might not be a problem but if you decide later to do contact prints you do have to trim off the scratched areas for it to show clean.

I have gone to cutting out mat boards in the size needed for 5x7 negs & then tape the negative to the matboard using Scotch magic tape. Put it on one edge & burnish a touch to the board, then put it on the opposite edge & pull taut & then push the tape into place on the matboard. Works pretty well and keeps the negs nice & flat.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), November 29, 2001.