Making a Contact Sheet Yr 11 Photography
Making a Contact Sheet Overview Also called a proof sheet Place negatives in holder Use enlarger to process Expose a test strip Develop test strip Check which test is best and use this exposure time for full contact sheet Clean up and rinse trays
Making a Contact Sheet The enlarger Turn on enlarger Raise and lower enlarger head so that light will cover entire contact print Set aperture – turn to full light and then turn back 2 or 3 clicks Focus enlarger – check that light produces ‘crisp’ edge Turn off enlarger (or use filter over light)
Making a Contact Sheet Making a test strip Place film in negative sleeve on the enlarger Take a ‘test strip’ of photographic paper and place this under a good negative strip that you want to test Make sure all other photo paper is in the box away from light Cover all negatives with cardboard leaving a 1cm strip exposed Press timer for 2 seconds exposure. Slide cardboard along 1cm. Set timer for 2 seconds. Repeat until test strip fully exposed.
Developing test strip & Contact sheet Making a Contact Sheet Developing test strip & Contact sheet Chemicals Developer (120 mls rodinal : 1080 mls water @ 20°) Stop bath (water @ 20°) Fixing agent (120 mls fixer : 1080 mls water @ 20°) Hypo clearing agent (wash – water @ 20°) Follow the same process as for developing negatives Developer – 2 mins – gently agitate Stop bath – 1 min – gently agitate Fixer – 2 mins – gently agitate Wash – as long as you possibly can under running water
Making a Contact Sheet Safety precautions Avoid contact with skin and eyes Wash hands after using chemicals Use tongs to transfer photos between trays Use red safe light Light indicator outside darkroom Don’t eat or drink in darkroom
Making a Contact Sheet Some resources http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw3qM4ABPfk http://www.artisticnetwork.net/arts/1012/how-to-print-a-contact-sheet-from-negatives-black-and-white-photography-darkroom-skills.html http://www.ehow.com/how_8232070_make-contact-sheet-enlarger.html http://www.halfhill.com/proof.html