Re: [Leica] Re: Darkroom User Group (DUG)

[Bill Satterfield <cwsat@cyberhighway.net>]

The enlarger, lens board and easel are all in alignment. What I am talking about
is getting the negative in the negative carrier, the negative carrier and the
easel all at the same angle so the picture will print straight on the paper. That
is that it is not crooked but at a 90 degree angle. Am I making myself
understood? The 45 negative carrier can be rotated after you insert it and lock
it down. This has to be straight in the enlarger. I try to line it up and then
when I focus on the easel, I have to move the easel so the picture is projecting
straight on the easel. It will then be straight when I print. It just seems
extremely hard to do for the novice in the darkroom.

Bill Franson wrote:

> >Also, I have trouble getting the easel squared, the negative squared and the
> >paper squared so that the print will be squared on the paper. I know it is a
> >visual exercise but it is bothersome.
>
> It sure is! But help is on the way. Buy yourself a small level, something
> that you can fit  in the negative stage slot. If you are using the enlarger
> on the board it comes with level that first. Then with the level in the
> negative stage level the head with the adjustment at the back of the head
> that rests on a chrome bar. You have the negative and the board which your
> easel sits on squared now. Loosen the screws that hold the lensboard and
> place the level on the bottom of the lens and shift the board until the
> level is centered. Voila! Now don't breathe! And stop buying Leica
> equipment so you can go out and spend some money on an enlarger with real
> adjustments. Just Kidding! I've been using this enlarger, head combo for
> some time and am comfortable with it now, though it really is a dog to fine
> tune.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Bill Franson