Standard paper grade

ParkerSmithPhoto · Mar 4, 2021

Over the years I have tried to standardize my negatives for a Grade 3 paper. The theory (for me) is that, if I end up with a negative that's a bit flat, I can go to 4 or 5. Too contrasty and I can drop down to Grade 2 or 1.

Is there anything wrong with this idea? Oddly, I seem to like the results I get with a neg that's a touch thin and needs the pop of Grade 4. How do you design your negatives?

cjbecker · Mar 4, 2021

I’ve standardized on grade 2 under diffusion enlarger. I will also just move up and down a grade depending on the negative. I will typically develop all my negatives the same and change paper grade depending on of the scene was flat or high contrast.

RalphLambrecht · Mar 4, 2021

ParkerSmithPhoto said:
Over the years I have tried to standardize my negatives for a Grade 3 paper. The theory (for me) is that, if I end up with a negative that's a bit flat, I can go to 4 or 5. Too contrasty and I can drop down to Grade 2 or 1.

Is there anything wrong with this idea? Oddly, I seem to like the results I get with a neg that's a touch thin and needs the pop of Grade 4. How do you design your negatives?

perfectly sound logic on your part and ideal for a diffusion enlarger. for a condenser one might be better off to standarize the neg on grade 2.

Bill Burk · Mar 5, 2021

Your logic is fine. I use Galerie which comes in grade 2 and 3 so I aim for the middle. Actually I found a thin neg that barely held up to scrutiny on Grade 3, and a negative that was brilliant on Grade 2. I aim for between those two examples of the worst negatives possible.

Standard paper grade

ParkerSmithPhoto

cjbecker

RalphLambrecht

Bill Burk

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