contact printing negs.. in sleeves or not?

[brian steinberger]

This is a very beginner question, which is wierd, especially since I am not. But, when I first started b&w darkroom I proofed a set of negs through the print-file sleeves (as you can easily do), and did not like it what so ever. Every since then I've been taking my negatives out of the sleeves when it came time to proof. Does anyone else do this? Or am I just too picky? I find the negatives right on the paper produce less diffused, sharper contacts. But, I don't like handling my negatives anymore than I have to, and this is why I ask. How are you guys proofing? In sleeves, or not?

 

[David H. Bebbington]

This is a very beginner question, which is wierd, especially since I am not. But, when I first started b&w darkroom I proofed a set of negs through the print-file sleeves (as you can easily do), and did not like it what so ever. Every since then I've been taking my negatives out of the sleeves when it came time to proof. Does anyone else do this? Or am I just too picky? I find the negatives right on the paper produce less diffused, sharper contacts. But, I don't like handling my negatives anymore than I have to, and this is why I ask. How are you guys proofing? In sleeves, or not?

My vote is for leaving the negs in the sleeve (clear plastic of course, not paper). The big plus is reduction of risk of handling damage, the resulting contact sheets will not of course be as useful if you like to study them for sharpness with a loupe.

Regards,

David

 

[bdial]

Usually I proof in the sleeve, to minimize handling and the negatives exposure to dust. To examine sharpness I use a magnifier looking at the negative.

 

[donbga]

This is a very beginner question, which is wierd, especially since I am not. But, when I first started b&w darkroom I proofed a set of negs through the print-file sleeves (as you can easily do), and did not like it what so ever. Every since then I've been taking my negatives out of the sleeves when it came time to proof. Does anyone else do this? Or am I just too picky? I find the negatives right on the paper produce less diffused, sharper contacts. But, I don't like handling my negatives anymore than I have to, and this is why I ask. How are you guys proofing? In sleeves, or not?

I use the Patterson proofers for 35 and 120 so I take the negs out. It makes a difference for me.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I use paper neg file holders for 35mm but clear plastic for all other formats. I remove the negs for all formats and contact directly onto paper.

Within reason I have found film to be very tough, one can of course have have problems, but by and large, I have found film to be far stronger than I thought possible.

Remember that with 35mm film it has already been pulled backwards and forwards through your camera, loaded onto reels, developed, then cut up and slid into sleeves. Sometimes it is also dried with a hot air drier and can curl somewhat, yet when flattened out it doesn't seem to show any adverse reaction from all of this action.

The extra handling of placing on paper then covering with a sheet of glass for a few seconds, shouldn't really give the film a heart attack after what it has already endured.

You do have to take it out to enlarge, don't forget. Also when enlarging, quite a few people squash the film between two sheets of glass, without any negative effect!

That said, do what you think is best.

Mick.

 

[fschifano]

Always sleeveless. I use white cotton gloves to handle the negatives, more to keep my greasy fingerprints off the negatives than anything else.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I used to print sleeveless, now I scan 'em in the PrintFile sleeves. I can generally take sharpness for granted (and besides, what are work prints for?) so what I'm normally looking for is the most attractive shapes in the image -- and a slight lack of resolution can make this easier.

But a lot depends on your preferred subject matter and the way you use your contacts.

 

[Akki14]

I use printfile sleeves where possible and contact print and use clamps on my contact printer since the clip on it has gone (or something like that. it won't stay shut anymore). No more problems with not contacted enough contact prints.

 

[ooze]

I also take them out of printfile sleeves. One reason is that I contact print on 8x10 paper and the negs in the sleeves won't fit onto a single sheet. Also, depending on how hot it is or how greasy my fingers are, I may use cotton gloves.

 

[Konical]

Good Morning,

Sleeveless, always--just before putting the negatives into the sleeves for the first time.

Konical

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I proof out of the sleeves.

 

[Dan Fullerton]

I use sleeves, I add roll identifiers, dates, etc. to the border with a felt tip marker which prints onto the contact sheet. I mark the frame(s) I want to examine closer before printing the contact sheet then compare the resulting sheet helps me in judging how future negatives will print. Dan

 

[brian steinberger]

It's interesting how this subject seems to be split with equal number of people proofing with the negs out of the sleeves. I believe I'm going to continue proofing with negatives out of the sleeves. The cotton gloves are a good idea! Might have to get me some.

 

[JHannon]

I take the negs out of the sleeves. I also mark my negs with a date code in the border area with a .30 pen (Staedtler pigment ink).

 

[joel dallenbach]

I take negs out of sleeves for contact printing. I'm kinda bummed that 8x10 paper doesn't allow for my frame 36,7 or 00, 01 which invariably crop up with thirty five. I used to make a separate sheet for these leftovers, but that destroys the continuity of a roll, I might try through the plastic with 2.25 x2.25 since this format fits on 8x10 easily. Usually though I do not have time to do anything but a contact sheet, so that becomes the final step in the photography process. So It might as well be a clear as possible, Ie with out the neutral density and other qualities added from print file etc,...