How do you expose sections of the photo paper individually when test printing?

[ame01999]

As we all know, making a test strip by progressive exposures produces an arithmetic series of times: not deal when exposure follows an exponential curve.

Back when my college had a color darkroom, we were able to make test prints with 10 individual filter combos because we had these ingenious printing frames. They had, for lack of the better word, swinging "doors" on them. Two rows of five. Great in the monochrome darkroom too because we didn't have to rely on the fussy test print method, and we could test out different contrast filters.

I don't know if these things exist anymore, and I don't even know what to call them. We called them "barn doors," which seems unlikely to turn up any matches on eBay.

I made a very primitive version by taking one half of an 8x10 paper box, taking the cardboard insert that fits inside it, cutting it into 5 pieces, and attaching little knobs to each. But it wasn't a great solution.

Have you ever worked with similar devices, and were they always DIY? Thanks.

 

[MattKing]

I have a Saunders Easel that permits moving an 8x10 sheet of paper to each of the bottom plate's 4 corners sequentially, while the 4x5 window that you expose through stays stationary. You end up with 4 exposures on an 8x10 sheet.
It is heavy and a quite large: 15" x 12" on the baseboard. It would be fairly easy to make up a new version.
In the past I've worked with a proofing easel - again Saunders and again heavy and large - that has changeable top plates which permit you to choose image sizes between wallet size and 8x10. Friends still have one.
Here is a Photrio thread where one is pictured and discussed: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/saunders-multi-print-easels.159682/

 

[RalphLambrecht]

As we all know, making a test strip by progressive exposures produces an arithmetic series of times: not deal when exposure follows an exponential curve.

Back when my college had a color darkroom, we were able to make test prints with 10 individual filter combos because we had these ingenious printing frames. They had, for lack of the better word, swinging "doors" on them. Two rows of five. Great in the monochrome darkroom too because we didn't have to rely on the fussy test print method, and we could test out different contrast filters.

I don't know if these things exist anymore, and I don't even know what to call them. We called them "barn doors," which seems unlikely to turn up any matches on eBay.

I made a very primitive version by taking one half of an 8x10 paper box, taking the cardboard insert that fits inside it, cutting it into 5 pieces, and attaching little knobs to each. But it wasn't a great solution.

Have you ever worked with similar devices, and were they always DIY? Thanks.

here is a DIY version

 

[MARTIE]

I only make localised test strips.

I use physical markers so the exposure window in the mounting board is replaced in same area for each exposure.

The exposure window can fit upto an 8x10" piece of paper but I generally only use half of that to get to an 8x10" proof print.

The back of the board is marked for each frame. I chose for 7 exposures of 3.5cms wide.
Plus left, right for landscape and top, bottom for portrait orientation.

 

[snusmumriken]

I only make localised test strips.

I use physical markers so the exposure window in the mounting board is replaced in same area for each exposure.

The exposure window can fit upto an 8x10" piece of paper but I generally only use half of that to get to an 8x10" proof print.

The back of the board is marked for each frame. I chose for 7 exposures of 3.5cms wide.
Plus left, right for landscape and top, bottom for portrait orientation.

That’s brilliant!

 

[xkaes]

There have been a few commercially-available testing easels sold over the years -- similar to MARTIE's. Petersen's had a DIY method that used an 8x10" piece of Foamcore that was cut into 10 4x2" sections -- but you can set one up the whatever size & shape you want. You tape tabs on each top to remove one at a time. E-Z P-Z.

 

[snusmumriken]

There have been a few commercially-available testing easels sold over the years -- similar to MARTIE's. Petersen's had a DIY method that used an 8x10" piece of Foamcore that was cut into 10 4x2" sections -- but you can set one up the whatever size & shape you want. You tape tabs on each top to remove one at a time. E-Z P-Z.

But with that design, and Ralph’s, you have to move the entire device across the baseboard, don’t you, to expose each section to the same bit of image? With @MARTIE ’s device, you can just pull the paper through.

 

[koraks]

With @MARTIE ’s device, you can just pull the paper through.

Yeah, I like that in his solution. The 'device' can be taped to the easel to form a makeshift hinge so it can be lifted up between exposures to allow the test strips to be pulled through; it can then drop back into the same place. Very neat solution that's accessible to everyone. I think I'm going to steal that excellent idea - thanks @MARTIE!

 

[MARTIE]

You're most welcome!

The photographic easel remains fully aligned ready for the print and the mounting board also has fixed reference points of your choosing, depending on the part of the negative to be exposed. It has always worked well even if the mounting board goes over the easel edges. The paper stays pretty much where it is all on its own, trapped between the slots.
So, it's only a matter of moving the test strip along a measured portion for changes in either exposure time or filter grade.

It's cheap and effective but most importantly, you're comparing like for like. Another advantage, in my view, is that each individual portion of the test strip gets the full amount of exposure rather than a series of shorter intermittent accumulated exposures by some cover/reveal methods.

 

[xkaes]

But with that design, and Ralph’s, you have to move the entire device across the baseboard, don’t you, to expose each section to the same bit of image? With @MARTIE ’s device, you can just pull the paper through.

You're right. The "Petersen's" design works when you don't need to expose the exact same area of an image. It works fine for determining exposure or contrast or color of a scene -- or is good for test strips for determining maximum black with a fully developed but unexposed negative (Base + Fog), etc.

 

[Ian C]

A slightly different approach is the following. One of the easiest print exposure tests is the use of the Kodak Projection Print Scale. Although no longer made, they can be found on eBay, often in like-new condition.

The Delta-1 version is still available and works the same way ($10.95 from B&H in NYC).

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/15711-REG/Delta_12610_Projection_Print_Calculator_Scale.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&lsft=BI:514&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1413790935&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-suQptqFkAMV8C_OBx1q-jNNEAQYASABEgJpG_D_BwE

Delta-1 instructions:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Del...yLjE0uAfLD8IHCDMuOS4xMS4xyAdU&sclient=gws-wiz

Each of these consumes a single 4” x 5” sheet (1/4 of an 8” x 10” sheet) of paper., You can generally nail the exposure in a single test. It works with B&W or color, since it is a form of neutral density filter. It can be used at any projection size.

Start with the optimum aperture, the one that gives the best combination of resolution and preservation of the negative’s inherent contrast. That’s usually when the aperture is closed about 2 stops from wide open.

There are many You Tube videos illustrating its use.

Kodak Instructions:

USING THE

KODAK PROJECTION PRINT SCALE

With the KODAK Projection Print Scale, you can determine the starting exposure time for black-and-white or color enlargements, or contact prints on paper or film. See the test print on the back of this sheet.

For Enlargements:

• Place the negative or transparency in the enlarger and focus sharply.
• Turn off the printing light and other white lights.
• Place the enlarging paper (of film) on the easel.
• Lay the scale (shiny side up) on the paper over the center of interest of the image; hold it flat in contact with the paper (or film) with a sheet of glass or your hands.
• Expose for 60 seconds* and develop it as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Inspect the image and select the sector that appears to have the corrcct density (darkness). The number on the rim of the sector is the starting exposure time in seconds.
• Without the scale, make an exposure at this time on another sheet.

Note: Most photographic prints appear slightly darker when dry. Learn to adjust for this “dry down” when judging wet prints.

For Contact Prints or Negatives:

• Place the scale on the contact printer glass, shiny side down.
• Place the negative or transparency, and paper, in their usual relative positions over the scale.
• See steps 5 and 6 and determine the correct exposure.

Although the segment may appear to have the correct density, when the entire print is made it may be slightly darker or lighter overall. This is because a small segment, out of context of the rest of the picture area, is not always an exact indicator of the correct density.

*If the exposure time is expected to be short, make the test exposure 30 seconds. The correct printing time will be half the number of the best sector. For printing black-and-white negatives from color transparencies, use a 6-second test exposure, and a printing time 1/10 the number of the best density sector.

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, Rochester, NY 14650

9-78-AXX

The 10 segments in seconds are: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, and 48.

 

[pentaxuser]

here is a DIY version

The best teststrip printer I have ever possessed. Thanks Ralph

pentaxuser

 

[mmerig]

But with that design, and Ralph’s, you have to move the entire device across the baseboard, don’t you, to expose each section to the same bit of image? With @MARTIE ’s device, you can just pull the paper through.

With Ralph's design, you pull the paper across strip by strip, and the frame device stays in the same place.

 

[mmerig]

The best teststrip printer I have ever possessed. Thanks Ralph

pentaxuser

My thanks to Ralph too. I use the DYI frame he has in his book.

 

[snusmumriken]

With Ralph's design, you pull the paper across strip by strip, and the frame device stays in the same place.

Ah, ok, my apologies for misunderstanding.

 

[BHuij]

I designed a 3D printed test strip maker to solve this exact problem, (actually two of different sizes) and I now use them every time I'm in the darkroom. It's overengineered and unnecessary, but I love using it and it certainly is convenient.

Test Strip Omega (& Omega Zero Calorie) by BHuij | Download free STL model | Printables.com

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

This may fit your requirements.
Not often found with the print scale

 

[fiddle]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this one. Looks well made.

Perfect Test Strip Printer.

Dial-in exposure and contrast quick and easy in your black and white darkroom printing using The Perfect Test Strip Printer. Save time, money and paper.

www.distinctionphoto.com

 

[BMbikerider]

As long as I can remember I have used a Patterson test strip printer which has 5 separate fingers which can be dropped one after another so you get 5 additive exposure settings. So if I do a 1st test with 10 second intervals and the exposure is somewhere between 20 and 30 seconds I do a second test with 5 more strips of 2 second intervals more with which usually cover what I need.

 

[DutchDarkroom]

Though i don't tend to use it anymore i have this test strip maker. I believe it was made by BHuji, i'm not sure about the difference between this one and the one he posted in this thread. It allows you to use 1/8 of a 8x10 sheet and make 4 separate strips of the same area. You can 3d print it, assembly was quite simple with some magnets, bolts and a little superglue. Hope this helps.

The Ultimate Darkroom Printing Test Strip Maker by BHuij | Download free STL model | Printables.com

 

[BHuij]

@DutchDarkroom it always tickles me to see my design being used in the wild. The one you picture is more or less identical in function to my newer version, I mostly just polished some of the rough edges on the design.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

But with that design, and Ralph’s, you have to move the entire device across the baseboard, don’t you, to expose each section to the same bit of image? With @MARTIE ’s device, you can just pull the paper through.

with mine, you move the paper 1" at a time to create the test strip.