Large Format Without A Camera
Large format transparencies are very impressive. They produce
much sharper and better detail images than 35mm format. Photo editors also love larger
slides. They are easier to view and don't require a loupe. For publications, the larger
transparencies produce better results than 35mm. Many publications actually make larger
duplicates from 35mm slides for publishing images. Many photographers also submit
duplicate medium format and large format slides made from 35mm originals, since bigger
slides sell easier than 35mm.
You can have your lab make 4X5 duplicates for you, but the
cost is very high. The quality of duplicate slides made by labs aren't always good.
Special attention should be given to color and sharpness of the duplicate. If you make
your own dupes, you have total control over the results. If you have an enlarger, you are
ready to make your own 4X5 or even 8X10 duplicates. An enlarger with color head is the
easiest way to make duplicates. If your enlarger doesn't have a color head, you'll need a
set of CC gelatin filters. Best results are obtained with duplicating films (Ektachrome
6121 is a good choice) under tungsten light, such as your enlarger. Day light balanced
films produce high contrast duplicates which can give unacceptable results. Making
duplicates with an enlarger is similar to making prints, except you use sheet films
instead of paper.
Choose a sharp and well exposed original. Make sure it is clean and dust
free. In total darkness, load a sheet of film in a film holder. Don't use an easel. Film
holders give black borders similar to original sheet films used with large format cameras.
You need to run a few tests for determining exposure and filtration. Duping films come
with a suggested filter pack. Set the recommended filter pack on your color head or insert
gel filters into the enlarger's filter holder. Set your enlarger's lens to f-11. Kodak
recommends a 10 sec exposure with Ektachrome 6121 duplicating films (check exposure
recommendations for other brands). Set your timer to 10 seconds. Pull out the dark slide
one inch at a time and expose the film in increments of 2 seconds. Have the film
processed. When you get your film back from the lab, judge exposure and filtration, and
use your test slide when making the final duplicate. To correct exposure increase or
decrease the time rather than opening or closing the f-stop on the lens. F-11 gives the
sharpest results. Wider f-stops can give unsharp corners, and smaller f-stops require
longer exposure times and can give unsharp results due to diffraction. To correct color
balance, you need to add or reduce filtration. Check your test slide to make necessary
filtration changes. See the chart below for correcting filtration.
| Too yellow: reduce yellow
Too magenta: reduce magenta Too cyan: reduce cyan Too blue: reduce magenta + cyan Too green: reduce yellow + cyan Too red: reduce yellow + magenta |
If you don't have an enlarger, you can buy an inexpensive or used one. Any enlarger will work. A set of CC gelatin filters, one sheet film holder, and a timer can be bought for under $100. Buy a high quality lens. The sharpness of your final images depend on the quality of your lens. For making duplicates from 35mm originals, you need a 50mm lens. Don't expect to get the same quality with your 4X5 dupes as you would with an original 4X5. Every time you make duplicates or prints, you loose some sharpness. Try making some 4X5 or 8X10 dupes, especially if you don't use a view camera. You don't get all the movements offered by large format cameras, but the final image will really impress you. You might even consider moving up to the large format.