Showing off some of my own products while finally getting to spend some time in my darkroom making some prints. Here's one I took last summer during our suba diving vacation to Cozumel with @divemasterscuba . Taken with my Nikonos V and shot on the gorgeous (and sadly discontinued) Adox Silervermax film. As the notes show, it was a straight print using a #2 filter. I could have probably burned in the sand on the left up into the tunnel just a little bit though as is I still quite like it. I used @ilfordphoto 's gorgeous FB Classic paper and developed it in Photographer's Formulary 130 with Ilford stop and rapid fix.

https://youtu.be/CrpIMIi6OtY

I used my own series of accessories (as I usually do) - my 35mm D2 carrier, my D2 filter tray (for Ilford filters), and my brand new Simpleasel for fiber paper (which still needs a clever name). Thanks to @drunk.darkroom for helping me by beta testing the design and offering suggestions. I hope to make this available soon! In the meantime, folks that might be interested can send me a PM for more info on what it is and how it works.

Finally, crossing the streams a bit by using a song off my band (@theband)'s last album, Alien Me, called E.V.O.L.V.E. It makes for good darkroom montage music I think (you can find us on music.victimcache.com).

#Simpleasel #Darkroom #ShootFilmeBeNice #HelloAdox #Silvermax100

Trying out a new easel design prototype. Now that I have 8x10 easels available, naturally folks have been wondering if I might be able to do 11x14 and larger. Those are larger than my largest 3D printer and so I had to come up with some new ideas.

Introducing the Woodeasel, Woodensel? Woodsel? I dunno. It's really just 2 flat sheets of MDF with some markings, magnets, and rubber feet. The magnets are oversized and, sure enough, they are so strong they can easily lift up the base. I did this on purpose in hopes they would be strong enough to hold down fiber paper. I think I can combat this by adding some tabs on the base to hold the easel down whilst placing the top on or off. One needs to place the top at an angle but otherwise I think this would work.

This is the "Basic" version. I'm thinking of a "Pro" version which will be similar to my Simpleasels and will have an inlay for the paper as well as a top which presses down into the inlay. That will require more work to assemble (hence the Pro part).

Being that this is MDF and darkrooms tend to be wet, I'll need to seal or paint these as well.

No promises that this will become a real product (and if so, what sizes I might offer). I haven't even tested this yet in my own darkroom :P But if folks are interested, do let me know!

#Darkroom #DarkroomEasel #Simpleasel #Woodeneasel #LaserCut #FilmPhotography #DarkroomAccessories

Here's what an 8x10 version of my piano key style test strip top/maker would look like! This was requested by a customer. I'm not sure if I'll offer it as a normal item or not. It's quite a bit of plastic which means it might be more expensive than folks might want to pay compared to using a mat board. But nonetheless I thought I'd share! If folks want to see this as an option for the 8x10 Simpleasel let me know!

#Simpleasel #FilmPhotography #Darkroom #DarkroomProducts #Easel #CAD #Prototype

I've made a minor cosmetic change to the Simpleasels I wanted folks to be aware of. I've had to switch back to a smooth build plate which means the top side of the tops and the bottom side of the bases will be smooth instead of textured. The texture looked really cool and classy but otherwise did not have any affect on how the product functioned. I've been having issues with bed adhesion using the textured build plate which is a common problem when using PLA. I had thought I sorted that out but unfortunately not.

I'm using PLA for the easels because it is stiff (this is why I use it for the negative carriers as well). I could use another plastic, such as PETG, which prints reliably on the textured plates, but then it would be more bendy than I would prefer given the application.

I will be updating the photos for all the listings when I can, but wanted to let folks know in the meantime.

#Simpleasel #3DPrinted #FilmPhotography #Darkroom #DarkroomPrinting #Easel

And back is business! My Voron 2.4 had an issue last week which prevented me from making any Simpleasels until yesterday but I'm now able to start cranking them out again!

While I have several printers, I currently only have one printer (the 2.4) which is big enough to make the 8x10 easels. But I like the results I get so much I tend to make all easels on this thing since it also helps free up my Prusa's. It does mean I'm going to need at least a 2nd big printer at some point.

While it was out of commission I gave it a small upgrade too (switched over to a Bondtech CHT 0.6mm nozzle). This required some modifications to the models, notably I switched to another front for the size engravings which is much easier to read and overall just cooler looking.

If you want to pick one of these up, check out my direct store (link in bio) or my eBay or Etsy stores.

#BackInBusiness #Simpleasel #3DPrinting #Voron #Voron24

It's finally here! It only took about a year? :P

My Simpleasel 8x10 is now available on my Etsy store with eBay and my direct store to follow soon! (Links in Bio) I'm in the process of moving my Shopify store to WooCommerce so will have it up there once I finish moving.

Currently available with the standard 1/4" and 1/8" bordered tops as well as square crop tops (also with a 1/4" and 1/8" border). Other sizes and options to follow soon.

The base is also available with an optional Rule of Thirds grid and in white or yellow (and possibly red and black at a later date, noting that these may require composing with a scrap piece of paper loaded to better see the image).

A HUGE thanks to the folks willing to beta test this, especially @drunk.darkroom (on Instagam)! His feedback and suggestions were invaluable!

Thanks also to the incredible folks behind the Voron line of 3D printers and the Voron community at large!

#SimplEasel #Darkroom #DarkroomPrinting #FilmPhotography #Easel #3DPrinting #LongTimeComing

My 8x10 Simpleasel isn't available yet but I'm already looking at additional tops for the system. This is my first pass at an offset square top. Why offset? That lets you save a bit of paper. You can trim about 50mm off one side to use as a test strip and still end up with a nice 1/4" border.

But don't worry, I'm planning on making centered square tops too, as well as 4x6 (2x3) and perhaps some panoramic tops (e.g. 6x12/1x2). Also thinking about an 8x10 test-strip top just like the 5x7s.

The 8x10 Simpleasel will be available soon! I'm basically just printing out some of the combinations so I can do nice product photography along with sorting out the initial pricing.

Follow me on Mastodon! @photos!

#Simpleasel #SquareTop #Square #FilmPhotography #FollowMeOnMastodon

Fun short darkroom session tonight! My main goal was to do some testing of my Simpleasels but I also managed to make a quick print from our Summer trip. That is of the Golden Gate bridge as we were passing underneath it when starting our cruise to Alaska. Straight print using a #2 filter on Ilford MGRC Portfolio paper. If I were doing a larger print, such as an 8x10, I might look at doing some minor dodging/burning but I find that can be difficult to do on 4x6. Still I'm rather happy with it!

The testing of the easels went great! The yellow and white bases seem to perform the same when doing density tests and neither show any print-through for the gridlines. In hindsight I could have done a bit more controlled tests with step wedges and I still might, but I think given these results, I'm pretty confident in offering grinlines as an option for all the easels. Sweet!

#Darkroom #DarkroomSession #DarkroomPrinting #Simpleasel #Testing

I decided to make a 4x6 Simpleasel with a yellow base I wanted to try out. The yellow is...VERY yellow ;) I was hoping it might be more of a muted yellow-orange to better match the color of the Speed-Ez easels. On the other hand, I don't know what the original color of those things were when they were new so *shrug*. Still, SUPER yellow!

I plan on testing the composition lines with both a white and yellow base to make sure there isn't any print-through. I don't expect any with yellow since I tested it last week, albeit with different yellow filament color (that was a little more orange).

I'm hoping there aren't any issues with the white. If not, I'll likely make the composition lines an option for all my Simpleasels.

I'm also making great progress on the 8x10 easel! I've been super happy with it in my own testing. I'll be sending it out to a few beta testers for feedback soon and, assuming all is well, will be launching it officially not longer after!

#Simpleasel #Darkroom #DarkroomPrinting #3DPrinting #Yellow #SuperYellow

I'm being a tease, I know. The bottom half of the very first 8x10 Simpleasel prototype! Paper fits! I'm printing a test top now and if that works I can take it for a spin in my darkroom to make sure it works as expected.

It's yellow since I used some random filament with it, though I had thought about having a yellow base option to pay homage to the Speed-Ez's for folks that might only be making BW prints.

This printer. It can push some plastic fast too! I haven't even attached a larger and higher speed nozzle on it yet (the Bondtech CHT for the curious) nor do I have a volcano nozzle. Still it moves!

I'm getting pretty excited! The only big catch right now is I have several printers but only one that can print parts this size. That means the turn-around times or availability will be a little low at least at first. If my 8x10 accessories do well I'll probably get another one (I'm still wanting a Prusa XL when it is more readily available).

#Simpleasel #Darkroom #DarkroomPrinting #DarkroomAccessory #WetPrints #3DPrinting #Voron #Voron24 #WIP

An update to my 8x10 Simpleasel design. I know a lot of folks are eagerly waiting on these. I'm working on it! Hopefully soon!

#Simpleasel #DarkroomEasel #Darkroom #DarkroomPrinting #3DPrinting #WIP