Easier way to do exposure step tests?

Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure? If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

Jed Savage wrote:

Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure?

Correct exposure for what? Making prints? No such thing as
"correct exposure" (i.e., a standard exposure.) Base
exposure varies from film to film and paper to paper.

If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

I'd suggest a real step wedge for sensitometric applications.
Don't really understand all this fascination with doing basic,
simple darkroom stuff with a computer and printer. Waste of
(much) excess time..

In article ,
(Jed Savage) wrote:

Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure? If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

Called a step wedge.

Go here http://www.stouffer.net/

Get a 21 step wedge. If your doing real darkroom work as opposed
to computer futzing a real step wedge is the best bet.
--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

In article ,
(Jed Savage) wrote:

Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure? If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

Called a step wedge.

Go here http://www.stouffer.net/

Get a 21 step wedge. If your doing real darkroom work as opposed
to computer futzing a real step wedge is the best bet.
--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

In article ,
Tom Phillips wrote:

I'd suggest a real step wedge for sensitometric applications.
Don't really understand all this fascination with doing basic,
simple darkroom stuff with a computer and printer. Waste of
(much) excess time..

Human Nature? The desire to take a completly working process
and completely foobar it with a bunch of inferior suppositions?

Or the desire to make something on the cheap and easy that took
close to 200 years to nearly perfect?

Who knows.
--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

If you mean lay over a projected print Kodak makes/made a gadget called a
projection print scale, make a test print for 60 seconds through the scale
and pick the piece of the wedge that has the best exposure and expose for
the indicated time. Kind of a crutch, once you get the hang of things it's
probably a waste of time.

--
darkroommike

----------
"Jed Savage" wrote in message
om...
Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure? If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

If you mean lay over a projected print Kodak makes/made a gadget called a
projection print scale, make a test print for 60 seconds through the scale
and pick the piece of the wedge that has the best exposure and expose for
the indicated time. Kind of a crutch, once you get the hang of things it's
probably a waste of time.

--
darkroommike

----------
"Jed Savage" wrote in message
om...
Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure? If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

If you mean lay over a projected print Kodak makes/made a gadget called a
projection print scale, make a test print for 60 seconds through the scale
and pick the piece of the wedge that has the best exposure and expose for
the indicated time. Kind of a crutch, once you get the hang of things it's
probably a waste of time.

--
darkroommike

----------
"Jed Savage" wrote in message
om...
Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure? If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 13:22:40 GMT, Gregory W Blank
wrote:


Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure? If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

Delta makes a little sheet of transparant material with a circle cut
into wedges with increasing darkness - you lay this over your paper (I
think that it is about 4x5 so you can cut your paper into quarters
rather than strips, then expose for 1 min, each wedge has a number on
it which will tell you the number of seconds of equivalent exposure.

It will get you into the right ballpark to begin fine tweaking.

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 13:22:40 GMT, Gregory W Blank
wrote:


Are there clear test strips with varying opacity that I can lay over
my paper and expose only once yet be able to calculate correct
exposure? If so what are they called and where can I get one... if
not, would it be possible to make such a thing? Perhaps by printing
on a transparancy using an inkjet?

Delta makes a little sheet of transparant material with a circle cut
into wedges with increasing darkness - you lay this over your paper (I
think that it is about 4x5 so you can cut your paper into quarters
rather than strips, then expose for 1 min, each wedge has a number on
it which will tell you the number of seconds of equivalent exposure.

It will get you into the right ballpark to begin fine tweaking.