Out of curiousity, are contact prints better than enlarged prints due to the optics of the enlarging lens with respect to sharpness, distortion, etc.?

-- Bryan Fleishman (photoville@yahoo.com), November 30, 2000

Answers

I believe so, yes. Some would argue that with the best lenses, properly aligned enlarger on a heavy base, glass negative carrier, vacuum easel, and everything optimized, a 1:1 enlargement can match a contact print, but then it seems easier and vastly more economical to me to just make a contact print.

-- David Goldfarb (dgoldfarb@barnard.edu), November 30, 2000.

A one-to-one, projected print will not have the same qualityies as a contact print. This is because of flaws in the enlarger system (light source, negative carrier, lens, filters, air) and because diferences in the scattering of light passing through the negative when it is not in contact with the printing surface. This effect is commonly known as the "Callier Effect" as popularized by Ansel Adams, although, in fact, Callier's work had nothing to do with this type of light scatter.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), November 30, 2000.

Yeah that's fine and dandy if you have either a very large camera or like very small prints. I shoot 4x5 and don't like most contact prints at that size. I also have an 8x10 which makes very nice prints. Of course a 4x5 enlarged to 8x10 is hard to tell from a contact print just holding it in your hands. Unless your enlarging system sucks. James

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), November 30, 2000.

James,

It is not my intent to suggest that we all go to contact prints. I rarely make contacts for anything other than proof purposes, even from 4x5. I was only answering the question asked and explaining that it is more than the enlarging lens that makes the difference.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), December 01, 2000.

Even when printing with 4x5 negs to 8x10 there will be a difference when compared to an 8x10 contact print, if all else is equal. Equal quality lenses, film, processing and printing technique. If you want the highest quality possible in big prints, you use a big camera, learn impeccable technique and make contact prints, while hoping your creative vision is up to the task. For most, this does not work for a number of reasons. So, we shoot smaller formats and enlarge. If you want a hands on experience that graphically shows the differences, check out Tillman Crane's mammoth camera workshop each summer at the Waterford Institute in Sandy, UT. You can get info by e- mailing tillman@softsolutions.com . He runs it and you get hands on with formats from 8x10 to 20x24, including the 20x24 Polaroid. A solid week of BIG cameras, negs & expert instruction.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), December 01, 2000.

Another potential reason to contact print is to use printing materials designed for contact printing: Azo, platinum/palladium, printing out paper, gum bichromate, etc.

-- David Goldfarb (dgoldfarb@barnard.edu), December 01, 2000.