Start time for contact sheet

Hi,

I just came back from purchasing enough equipment to develop 35mm film and
make a contact sheet (with much thanks to many people on this group). Now I
would like to tackle my first contact sheet.

I've decided to create the sheet in my bathroom. I have a light which hangs
from the ceiling directly over the sink. I have put a piece of wood over the
sink where I will lay the paper, negs and glass.

If I stick my camera on this wood, with the lens face up, at 400 ASA, F4 I
get a reading of 1/500. I have no idea if this is sufficient to answer my
question but for how long should I expose the paper for to create my contact
sheet? I'm not looking for an _exact_ time but something to start with.

Thank You

J


--
Justin F. Knotzke

http://www.shampoo.ca PGP: http://www.shampoo.ca/pubkey.txt
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously - Noam Chomsky

"Justin F. Knotzke" wrote
I've decided to create the [contact] sheet in my bathroom. I have a
light which hangs from the ceiling directly over the [work area].
[approximately] how long should I expose the paper ?

Nobody knows, tiddly pom, nobody knows ...

Usually folks in the darkroom try to adjust the light source for about
a 10 second exposu it's not too long to wait; and it's not too
short to time easily and accurately.

I'd start with a 15 watt bulb in the fixture.

Now, make a test strip:

o Get a piece of cardboard or such

o Cut a strip of paper about 2x10", lay the negatives
on the paper and cover with glass

o Make a 2 second exposure

o Lay the cardboard on the glass, covering about 2"
of the negative & paper

o Expose again for 2 seconds

o Again move the cardboard up 2 inches

o Expose for 4 seconds

o Repeat the process, exposing for 8 and then 16 seconds

o Develop etc.

You will have a strip that shows exposures of 2, 4, 8, 16 & 32
seconds. Pick or interpolate the time for the best exposure.
The paper only responds meaningfully for halving or doubling
the exposure, just like a 1 stop bracket when taking a picture.

If 2 seconds is too dark then use a lower wattage bulb. If it's
as low as you can go then cover the tip of the bulb with masking
tape to cut down the light. Make sure the attenuated light is
even across the exposing area.

If 32 seconds is too light then use a higher wattage bulb.

Remember the exposure sequence is 2, 2, 4, 8, 16 -- easy to
keep in your head if you are a -real- computer geek.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.

Hi Justin !
To assess the correct exposure, look at the print where the sprocket
holes just are as dark as the film rebate surrounding them (the sprocket
holes are the darkest part the paper can go, and the film surrounding
them is the clearest part of your film) this way, you will be sure that
the clearest part of you images get as dark as they can, so if you use a
grade #2 paper or filter your light to obtain a grade #2, you will see
your negs in the better way to judge them .
Hope this helps !

Nicholas O. Lindan a écrit :
"Justin F. Knotzke" wrote

I've decided to create the [contact] sheet in my bathroom. I have a
light which hangs from the ceiling directly over the [work area].
[approximately] how long should I expose the paper ?


Nobody knows, tiddly pom, nobody knows ...

Usually folks in the darkroom try to adjust the light source for about
a 10 second exposu it's not too long to wait; and it's not too
short to time easily and accurately.

I'd start with a 15 watt bulb in the fixture.

Now, make a test strip:

Snipped a good advice to make a test strip....
--
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