Darkroom Printing Pt2 - The Contact Sheet

Today's video describes making your contact sheet and includes some neat tricks and tips, especially one that I use from Eddie Ephraums!
Darkroom Printing Part 1: • Darkroom Printing Part...
Darkroom Printing Part 2: • Darkroom Printing Pt2 ...
Darkroom Printing Part 3: • Darkroom Printing Part...
Darkroom Printing Part 4: • Darkroom Printing Pt4 ...
Darkroom Printing Part 5: • Darkroom Printing Pt5 ...
John
www.pictorialplanet.com

[@Lucho_Torsa]

Sir, I really think this channel doesn't get all the love and appreciation from the analog community. Likewise, I thank you for the enormous work of putting all this reservoir of knowledge in the hands of newcomers to the analog world. Keep doing it please, the community of the future will give you love in due course. Greetings from Cuba.

[@PictorialPlanet]

That's very kind of you to say, Orlando. Big hugs to Cuba!

[@Intangodelta]

I always learn something new from your videos John - I always tried to focus the light when making contact sheets, been doing it that way for years. Going to give it a go the other way from now on!

[@PictorialPlanet]

Glad I could offer this tip, Paul! Focussing the light also focusses possible dust on your possible glass negative carrier. Anyway, we like fuzzy light, right? ;-)

[@MacShrike]

FYI: If you cover the parts of the light table that do not show the negatives(the sides basically) Your video camera will show a far better image contrast. (Its almost like real photography =)) Very usefull video. Writing down stuff and setting them at the same settings everytime. Sound advice, I have been so silly.

[@PictorialPlanet]

Thanks for the idea. Of course it would look better! I will do that next time :) Cheers, Machiel!

[@ralphvandergeest]

What a really amazing channel this is. I develop my films and print my images for a few years now but I still keep finding all kinds of useful and interesting tips on how to improve. Thank you ever so much and hopefully you will continue this channel for a long time to come.

[@PictorialPlanet]

Thank you for your kind comments, Ralph.

[@kyledarrenhanson]

Excellent video, thorough detailed walkthrough and explanations, fantastic!

[@PictorialPlanet]

Thank you, Kyle!

[@liveinaweorg]

Printfile sleeves are very good in my limited experience. Robust and very good value. Another good intro to the darkroom processes. Thank you.

[@PictorialPlanet]

You're welcome, Morris!

[@gabrielresendes8277]

A lot of great tips. Thank You!

[@PictorialPlanet]

You're welcome, Gabriel and thanks for the comment.

[@philipdahl9001]

Thanks for this series! I have about 30 sheets of negatives that I haven't made contact sheets from yet, so I will try out your methods and make a few changes to the way that I have been making contact sheets.

[@PictorialPlanet]

Thanks for your comment, Philip. I'm pleased you're going to give it a go.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

I've been printing in my own darkroom for over 35 years. Nicely done, thumbs up, subscribed. Thanks! (Also, they do make negative sleeves for 4x5 and 8x10, I use the 4x5 ones a lot.)

[@PictorialPlanet]

Good question. The answer is yes. www.printfile.com/product-category/film-slide-storage/negative-pages/other-size-negative-preservers/

[@AndrewHenderson]

Another great video John, 2 things I'm going to try, keeping the negatives in their sleeve while contact printing and having the focus wracked way up.

[@PictorialPlanet]

Thanks 🙏

[@JohanSvenssongbgpixtures]

Great video !

[@PictorialPlanet]

Thank you, Johan!

[@BRLaue]

I’ve never had a problem handling negatives as I take a lot of care. I’m a little squeamish about leaving them in the sleeves but may give it a try.

[@PictorialPlanet]

Yeah, give it a go. It feels good knowing they're safe in their protective sleeves.

[@davidventura1424]

I always count backwards when making test strips. StRting with a higher time. We never use fast times so start at a higher number we shoot for

[@PictorialPlanet]

Interesting

[@mikeadam7267]

Sir, thank you for always replying to my questions. For the 1st test strip you can choose any strip from the films? I mean why you chose those three frames particularly for your 1st test strip? Thank you Sir

[@PictorialPlanet]

I choose any, as long as they represent the negative exposure well.

[@tonyhirst3628]

Good channel you've done here mate, you're properly teaching away the headfuckery of working a darkroom,best on YT.

[@PictorialPlanet]

Cheers!

[@photozen8398]

Why only the top ? is it possible that the enlarger light does not give even lighting ? @ 11:09 and before putting the paper of the contact sheet I would think it could be good idea to map it with incident readings of light meter dome down and see what it gives ?

[@PictorialPlanet]

The enlarger gives very even lighting, it's engineered to do that. The top negatives were given more exposure in the camera.

[@stephendeakin2714]

Do you find the Print File sleeves are easy to load. I've tried other brands of plastic sleeves and quite frankly have given up on them all because I couldn't slide negs in easily, in some cases never successfully loaded one neg strip.

[@PictorialPlanet]

Hi Stephen. I hold the sleeve over a counter top and slide the negative in. If it's dry it slides in easy for me.

[@stephendeakin2714]

@@PictorialPlanet Evening John, I've just placed an order for a pack. I note they make mention of anti-static properties and I think static build up has contributed to failure of my previous attempts at using plastic print through sleeve pages, so hopefully I'll have more luck with these. Thanks for getting back to me, I take it that you hold the sleeve hanging over the edge of your table and feed negs in, maybe a short video would be of interest to your viewers, I well remember your developing tank lid method working so successfully for me, it's the way I now always lid tanks. Cheers

[@PictorialPlanet]

Good idea for a video tip. Thanks Stephen

[@igaluitchannel6644]

What of the idea of making contact sheets at maximum black?

[@PictorialPlanet]

This is better if you want to see highlights as well as shadows.

[@igaluitchannel6644]

@@PictorialPlanet I see. Thank-you.