Facts, figures and specifications of enLARGE

• enLARGE is a new app that lets you accurately and conveniently compute the exposure time needed to expose one or more differently sized larger enlarger-exposed enlargements based on the exposure time found to be correct for the exposure of a smaller preliminary enlargement made first from the same negative.
  
  When you use enLARGE, you'll typically begin by first making a small perfect trial enlargement, called the 1st or Smaller Print, at any small size of your choice above 1X enlargement magnification, thus the projected image will be the same size or larger compared to its source negative. When this small trial enlargement looks correct in its exposure and contrast, you'll then type its exposure time, together with the enlarger’s negative-to-print distance, and as many as four desired dodge & burn exposure percentages, into the enLARGE work screen. You can now raise your enlarger's head to any higher height, or variety of higher heights, to thus expose one or more larger replica enlargements of any various sizes. To make a new larger enlargement, you'll type the enlarger's new negative-to-print distance into the enLARGE work screen and then tap '>New Exposure>'. enLARGE will instantly compute and display the new main exposure time, together with any associated new required dodge & burn exposure times, required to expose the new larger enlargement, such that after processing it will perfectly match the appearance of the smaller initial trial enlargement, the only difference between the two enlargements being their size and any dodge & burn effects which you may have chosen to apply to the 2nd or Larger Print. enLARGE also computes a secondary shorter dry-down exposure time, which compensates for the tendency for some print papers to dry down to a darker appearance, and also helps you to manage split exposures in which the main exposure time is given to the print using a sequence of 2 or more shorter consecutive equal exposures. 

• enLARGE works with all types of traditional lens-equipped darkroom enlargers including those fitted with Condenser, Diffusion, Cold-Light Grid, Dichroic, Multigrade, Adjustable Condenser & Negative Stage, and LED-panel lamphouses.

• enLARGE works with all kinds of contrast and filtration control, including in-drawer filter gels, below-lens filters, dichroic and multigrade heads. It works with neutral density filtration and enlarging lamp dimmers. It works with split-grade printing and split-exposure printing. However, do not use enLARGE with polarizing filters, or variable neutral density filters which incorporate polarizing filters, as these will give erroneous results, as polarizing filters transmit differing amounts of light under the differing optical geometries which are found in an enlarger at different enlargement sizes.

• enLARGE works with both vertical and horizontal enlargers using negative formats of all sizes, eg. with negative formats of 8x11mm to 11x14” and beyond, and with enlarging lenses of all focal lengths, eg.15mm to 680mm and beyond, including wide-angle enlarging lenses.

• enLARGE works at all magnifications above 1X, thus when the projected image is the same size as its source negative or larger. enLARGE does not compute enlargement reductions, thus below 1X. enLARGE does not incorporate or use preset print sizes, formats or shapes, instead you can use enLARGE at any and all enlargement magnifications above 1X, with no upper limit.

• When using enLARGE you never need to measure the size of your film negative or projected image, or compute the magnification of your projected image. Instead you simply measure the enlarger’s negative-to-print distance using a metric tape measure, or for greater distances or with horizontal enlargers, a laser measure, and enLARGE makes its computations using this value. 

• Due to the way enLARGE is typically used in the enlarging process, there is typically no need to use it in a ‘lights-out’ darkroom condition, and thus there is no need to switch on the light-emitting screen of your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad which in turn could affect light sensitive materials. Instead you will typically use enLARGE in white-light conditions when assessing 1st or Smaller test prints at the wet tray or drying station.

• enLARGE displays exposure times to one decimal place (eg. 2.3 sec, 87.9 sec) for exposures up to 100 seconds, and then in whole seconds over 100 seconds, with no upper exposure time limit. It displays associated dodge & burn exposure times required for each current enlargement in whole seconds, rounded up to the nearest whole second. Negative-to-Print Distances can be entered as either whole millimeters or as millimeters to one or more decimal places.

• Prior to use, enLARGE requires calibration to at least one enlarger in order to work accurately with it. During the calibration process enLARGE records the unique light emission characteristic of your enlarger-and-lens combination and stores it as an enlarger calibration profile which it then uses to perform the most accurate predictive exposure computations for the making of enlargements of all various different sizes with the equipment. enLARGE stores an unlimited number of such enlarger profiles so that you can conveniently use it with any number of different enlargers or enlarger assemblies. Note that because enLARGE records the relative brightness difference of your enlarger at different magnifications, only one calibration profile is needed for use with each so-calibrated enlarger. Thus it isn’t necessary to create separate or different profile calibrations for use with different materials or illumination contrast settings.

• Provided that enLARGE is accurately calibrated to the enlarger in use, according to the instructions explained in this blog, it has no error. Thus variously sized enlargements made using enLARGE, from any one negative, can be made to match each other identically in their tonality, contrast and overall 'look' and appearance, the only visible difference between them being their relative sizes. enLARGE can also be calibrated with any desired bias, thus, for example, that all enlarged prints dry to look eg. +10% darker than their smaller trial enlargements, or 5% lighter, etc. 

• Purchase price, payable when purchasing enLARGE on the Apple App Store, supplies the full app for permanent use. There is nothing else to pay, purchase or add. enLARGE does not carry any advertising or promotional content, and it does not ask you to make any further purchases. All future upgrades are provided free of charge, simply download them from the Apple App Store as they become available.

• enLARGE has been developed by Andrew G. Wittner, Dip. Art & Design, Photography, PCAE, Melbourne Australia, a Master Darkroom Printer and enlarger operator with over 45 years of darkroom enlarging experience, and Soan K. S. Saini, a university trained professional programmer and specialist in Apple iOS coding, both of Melbourne, Australia. It was launched on the Apple App Store in June 2017 and at July 2021 has users in over 20 countries. It runs on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad using iOS 9 and higher, and is not available on any other computing platform.

• Contact and support: Contact enLARGE using email andrew.wittner.photography@gmail.com. 
• On Facebook Messenger contact Andrew Wittner.