Back in the day...
I vividly remember Kodak introducing 8xl2 sizes for their printing services (pre Qualux maybe) and in B&W & color photo paper. It was a push to promote using full 35mm framing. I'm not sure where the demand came from. I'll admit it was never hugely popular, but 8x12 frames were certainly made. I generally printed 11x14 in my darkroom, so I never bought the 8x12. I may have had a slide printed 8x12 once (I didn't have a color darkroom) but I can't seem to find it.
8.5" x 11" was always a very rare size. Kodak made a very few types of paper in this size, I think they were catering to the automated print market for press releases and actor/model head shots. I do notice that Ilford seems to still make this size as well as AGFA.
I check of the usual sources, B&H, Adorama, Freestyle & Unique show that there is almost no life left to this size (B&H won't even let you select it for a search). Unique has some frames, a couple of types of Mitsubishi (ink jet?) paper and something unidentifiable from AGFA: http://www.uniquephoto.com/search.phtml?up14sid=1405d6a6b2f97a69c2958b1c7bde39e6&search=8x12
Regarding the current popularity of 8.5x11 and 13x19 this is the result of companies that primarily do business in the office-supply market horning into the photo market. Wouldn't it have been nice if they had done a little research to find out what sizes the photo market used. Then maybe that 13" wide printer could have been 16" wide and it would make 16x20's rather than being oversized for 11x14's. Can you adapt, sure, but with today's ink-jet paper sizes you'll be wasting paper.
Also does anyone join me in having a problem that ink-jet paper is just as expensive as B&W photo paper and it doesn't contain any SILVER? At B&H, Fuji Crystal Archive glossy color photo paper is $51.95 for 100 sheets of 11x15 and Epson glossy inkjet paper is $49.90 for 100 sheets. Shouldn't we all complain?
Mr. Bill
Steve Parrott wrote:
A few days ago discussion came up about finding photo paper in 8 x 12 size. True, you can't, but it *can* be "created". If your printer only supports a maximum size of the typical 8 1/2 x 11 sheet, then you can purchase 11 x 17 inch photo paper and cut the width down to 8 1/2. You can cut the length to whatever size you want, as the length is not a problem. Voila... 8 x 12 uncropped photos are possible... though, yes, it is somewhat a costly approach, but I do it for very special photos. Steve
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