Easy way to make single-location test-strips

ic-racer · Mar 13, 2022

I came back to this thread. These devices are great for beginners and advanced workers. I have a new student in my darkroom and we started with the Kodak Projection Print Scale and right away the student has trouble with interpretation because each pie is on a different part of their complex composition. In the past I always recommend additional exposures with the pie rotated, but in the future, I should make one of these devices.

radiant · Mar 13, 2022

ic-racer said:
we started with the Kodak Projection Print Scale and right away the student has trouble with interpretation because each pie is on a different part of their complex composition.

Same here. Others are using the print scale and I'm the only one using localized test strips. Our club has some commercial one for 5x7" which is very nice.

I think darkroom light meters should be more common to get the base time easily. Just point it to the highlight, get time (calibrated to the papers our club has) and print first draft with grade 2. They would get so much closer faster and without any "analysis" or experience. The problem is that the club has very very bright darkroom lights which make meters pretty much useless.

Donald Qualls · Mar 13, 2022

radiant said:
The problem is that the club has very very bright darkroom lights which make meters pretty much useless.

Cyan filter on the meter will block both red and amber safelights, with little effect on meter sensitivity in the paper's range.

radiant · Mar 13, 2022

Donald Qualls said:
Cyan filter on the meter will block both red and amber safelights, with little effect on meter sensitivity in the paper's range.

Very good idea, thanks Donald!

gone · Mar 13, 2022

Very interesting idea. I'll usually just do a test strip, then make a test print only if the test strip gives an unsatisfactory enlargement. W/ FB, I'll usually make a small test print after the test strips irregardless, it's important to see the whole print. FB being more expensive and time consuming to process, it just is what it is.

You can tell after a while that some negs are going to be trouble if you're using only a test strip due to wide ranges of tone and contrast in the shot in different areas.

Javier González · Mar 16, 2022

Great idea!. I will certainly try it in my next labo session. Thank you

RalphLambrecht · Mar 16, 2022

radiant said:
Same here. Others are using the print scale and I'm the only one using localized test strips. Our club has some commercial one for 5x7" which is very nice.

I think darkroom light meters should be more common to get the base time easily. Just point it to the highlight, get time (calibrated to the papers our club has) and print first draft with grade 2. They would get so much closer faster and without any "analysis" or experience. The problem is that the club has very very bright darkroom lights which make meters pretty much useless.

my Zone Meter from RHDesigns does exactly that.

radiant · Mar 17, 2022

RalphLambrecht said:
my Zone Meter from RHDesigns does exactly that.

True. And probably Nicholas Lindan's meter can perform the same thing.

albada · Mar 17, 2022

radiant said:
True. And probably Nicholas Lindan's meter can perform the same thing.

I have that meter (from darkroomautomation.com), and it works well. I recommend it.
However, many films have a slight color-cast. T-grain films can have residual magenta dye if not fully fixed and washed. Other films can have a slight blue/purple cast. Consequently, a meter will get you close. Very close if you know by experience how to compensate for color casts. For exacting work, a test strip is needed. Hence this thread about test-strip jigs. But a meter will save time by getting your exposure and contrast nearly correct on the first try.

Mark Overton

Easy way to make single-location test-strips

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