compensation

[ElectricLadyland]

Hi, if one were to under or overexpose their negatives, would exposing the print for more or less time compensate for the exposure error and give a print similiar to what proper exposure would have printed? thanks

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Underexposure results in a loss of shadow detail, while overexposure blocks up the highlights. Better to be near the centre of the field as options while printing diminish the closer you get to the sidelines.

Then again, if it gives you the look you're going for, go for it!

Murray

 

[rwyoung]

Murry summarized it quite well. Another way to think about it, if the information (detail) isn't on the negative, it won't be on the print.

But you can compensate for small over/under exposure errors during printing by burning/dodging to move tones up or down and use different paper grade (or equivalent filter) to alter the exposure slope. But there must be something there so your negative can't be too far out of whack.