negative tone values

[ElectricLadyland]

Hi, I have just started to develop my own negatives. I was wondering if one could judge the density by using a grayscale and applying the opposite value? For example, if an area of the negative looked like zone VII tone, could one conclude that it was in fact zone III tone, as it is a 'negative'? Might this method be used to judge negative quality and proper exposure/development? Thanks

 

[Ray Heath]

g'day Electric,
why not just make a print?

 

[ElectricLadyland]

I dont have a darkroom = /. Also, at this point I just want to learn to assess the quality of negatives.

 

[Mick Fagan]

ELL, I think your reasoning stands up from a certain viewpoint, but, and it's a big but, negatives are an inbetween step for the manufacture of a positive print.

That said, I have developed negatives purely to ascertain film speed with no intention of doing prints. I usually photograph a grey scale along with a colour chart.

I visually, on a light box with a loupe, inspect the roll or frame of film to find where the values are. Once I am satisfied that a certain frame has what I am wishing for, I will then print it to do a final check that the values I see in the negative are able to be transferred to the chosen paper.

Most of the time my chosen negative produces what I am after, occasionally it doesn't, but at least it's usually close.

So in that sense what you are asking is quite achievable.

Maybe you don't propose to have a darkroom, that's fine, but the only real way I know if a negative is good or bad for it's intended purpose, is to view a positive of that negative in the form of a print.

You have obviously done some research into the developing of negatives, to come up with this question.

Mick.

 

[Jerevan]

Maybe this will get you somewhat closer to judging the qualitites of the negative:
Dead Link Removed

 

[Bob Carnie]

Electricladyland or do you prefer Jimmy.

Without a darkroom to proof your negatives, I would suggest the old kodak book method of laying your negatives over newsprint or type.'
If you can barely read the type through your highlight sections of the negative and it there is detail in the areas of the shadows where you want to see detail in the print, I would say you have a fairly good negative.
Just a side note. An extremely competent photographer I know judges his selects for any show or portfolio by looking at the negative and not contacts for composition lighting and possible image quality.
Laying out your negs on a light table is a very good excersise to judge your work.More people should do this.

 

[ElectricLadyland]

Thanks for the replies. I suppose making the print is crucial, as even different negative densities can print the same tone with different papers, print times, techniques etc. It seems all the variables from exposure to print are interdependent, and one would need to work with a certain film/developer/paper and figure out all the details for the specific combination of materials.

 

[fhovie]

You can get a step wedge and compare the values - go for a light to dark density range of 1.0 to 1.3

Better yet - with every one on the planet dumping their labs - get a densitometer on e-bay. I never regretted getting mine. It really helped me dial in my processes.