enlargers

An enlarger is a device used in traditional photographic darkrooms to project the image from a film negative onto light-sensitive paper, producing a print in a chosen enlargement. It typicaly consists of a light source, an enlarging lens, a negative carrier, a vertical column or rail system for positioning, and a baseboard with an adjustable easel to hold printing paper.

In operation, the negative is placed in the carrier within the enlarger head. The head moves up or down the column to set the magnification, the lens focuses the projected image, and the paper sits on the easel on the baseboard. A timer controls exposure, and many setups include contrast controls, such as a condenser or diffusion head and, in color printing, a color head with filters to balance hues. Different lenses and negative carriers accommodate a range of film sizes, from 35mm to large-format sheets.

Enlargers vary by head type and purpose. Condenser enlargers use a bright, directed light to increase contrast, while diffusion enlargers produce a softer image. Color enlargers incorporate color-balanced heads with filters and may require color-matching techniques. Common brands include Omega, Beseler, Durst, and LPL. Modern variants may use LED or other light sources and digital accessories, but the fundamental function remains projecting and exposing a print from a negative.

Proficient use requires careful handling of glass, precise focusing, appropriate exposure times, and post-processing in development chemistry. Enlarge printing remains a cornerstone of traditional darkroom practice and is favored by enthusiasts for its hands-on, analog aesthetics.