Test negatives

[redbandit]

is there anyone that produces negatives for sale that are "correctly exposed, correctly developed" that one can use to figure out things.

Like the reverse of a step wedge.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Yes, ILFORD does: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/1672109

You will have to do the developing your self, and to monitor this a densitometer would be useful.
But, there is a lot of interesting info to find over here, and Ilford provides the necessary technical documentation too.

 

[koraks]

correctly exposed, correctly developed

Those are both rather subjective criteria. I've printed quite some negs from other photographers and we all seem to disagree over what both types of "correct" mean in practice. That is to say, we have different preferences.

You could consider getting a Stouffer step wedge. That's as objective a benchmark you can get practically. Very handy to have one of those lying about.

 

[Chuck_P]

Just to reiterate, it's very subjective, especially if someone is using the ZS as the basis to expose the film. The placement of a shadow in a particular zone affects where all other negative density values will fall on the zone scale. At that point, you're subjected to the photographer's own desires for that negative as to "correct" exposure and development. It's more important, imo, to be able to relate a single subject's luminance value in the scene to its corresponding negative density value and to its corresponding print value (that results from your gear and processes) by creating your own scale of values from pure white to full black.

It'll take 11 exposures............simply photograph a uniformly lit surface with some texture at the normal metered value (V), then five more exposures, each reduced by one stop for IV, III, II, I, 0........then, five more exposures, each increased by one stop for VI, VII, VIII, IX, X. Develop the film normally, print the Zone V exposure to match the value of a gray card, print all other exposures for exactly the same time.

This will create a scale of subject values with corresponding negative density values and corresponding print values that approximates your "correctly exposed, correctly developed" film given your equipment and your processing manner. I did this for myself long before I ever got more refined with it by doing my own film testing for personal EI and N+ and N- development times. It was very helpful to my understanding and to "figure things out". It helped me to relate scene luminance values to final print values given my processes. It's straight out of AA's book The Negative and it was a turning point for me years ago in my understanding.......it might help you too.

 

[pentaxuser]

Yes, ILFORD does: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/1672109

You will have to do the developing your self, and to monitor this a densitometer would be useful.
But, there is a lot of interesting info to find over here, and Ilford provides the necessary technical documentation too.

Your link takes me to FP4 Process Control strips at a cost of £180. Is this what you meant and of so I wonder if this is waht the OP had in mind when he asked for negatives for sale that are correctly exposed and developed?

pentaxuser

 

[redbandit]

Not what i was thinking...

When you go on ebay you see lots of old film negatives for sale. Im thinking being able to purchase a properly exposed and developed negative that is "idealized" for specific contrast grades.

Even if its just a photo of a grey card on a black and white table cloth

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Your link takes me to FP4 Process Control strips at a cost of £180. Is this what you meant and of so I wonder if this is waht the OP had in mind when he asked for negatives for sale that are correctly exposed and developed?

pentaxuser

Well, yes this was how I understood the OP's question.
But if it was a misinterpretation, then simply disregard my post...

 

[MattKing]

I think redbandit is looking for a modern version of the Kodak "Shirley" negatives - the ones they once sent to commercial labs to assist them in calibrating their colour printing machines.
This is really the best example of why it is so much better to learn from another photographer with more experience. If the mentor is at least half decent, they will have some good example negatives, that the "student" can learn to recognize.

 

[redbandit]

I think redbandit is looking for a modern version of the Kodak "Shirley" negatives - the ones they once sent to commercial labs to assist them in calibrating their colour printing machines.
This is really the best example of why it is so much better to learn from another photographer with more experience. If the mentor is at least half decent, they will have some good example negatives, that the "student" can learn to recognize.

i knew it used to be a real thing.

and a google search on it opened up a whole bit of crap i like to avoid.

SO the real t hing is, does anyone do something like that

 

[koraks]

does anyone do something like that

Yes. It's a Stouffer step wedge. It has a series of known transmissive densities.
That's what Shirley is in the end as well, but extended to a series of color patches. And it happens to have a face on it, but that's not really a requirement for its intended purpose.

 

[Bill Burk]

is there anyone that produces negatives for sale that are "correctly exposed, correctly developed" that one can use to figure out things.

Like the reverse of a step wedge.

I think I know what you're looking for. I think anyone here can offer some samples from their collection.

I once gave a prize-winning negative to Trader Joe's nephew because he asked to borrow it for exactly that reason.

Never got it back, so whenever I want to make another print, I have to work from a copy negative.

Am I bitter? No, but I'll never pass the opportunity to publicly shame him for what he did to me.

But if I understand, what you would like is a few example negatives of generic subject matter, that will print satisfactorily at a few different paper grades because they came out right.

 

[Tim Stapp]

I think I know what you're looking for. I think anyone here can offer some samples from their collection.

I once gave a prize-winning negative to Trader Joe's nephew because he asked to borrow it for exactly that reason.

Never got it back, so whenever I want to make another print, I have to work from a copy negative.

Am I bitter? No, but I'll never pass the opportunity to publicly shame him for what he did to me.

But if I understand, what you would like is a few example negatives of generic subject matter, that will print satisfactorily at a few different paper grades because they came out right.

I've exaustively searched "Trader Joe's nephew" and have not come up with any results. Care to share a name so that none of share a negative nor an electronic file with him?

 

[gone]

Those are both rather subjective criteria.

That's it in a nutshell. Everyone will be different on this, and it may come down to subject matter and condenser or diffuser enlarger. There is no correct anything, but if I'm wrong feel free to correct me.

 

[Bill Burk]

I've exaustively searched "Trader Joe's nephew" and have not come up with any results. Care to share a name so that none of share a negative nor an electronic file with him?

You'll wind up back here if you search... his brother's kid Bob.

 

[foc]

Ilfordlab (now Harman Lab) used to have a monitor set up print. You used to be able to order a print from them or download it from their site and print it yourself.



@redbandit .You could try making your own "Shirley". I have done it and it worked out for me.
If you are interested I can send you a bigger size file of the set up image and explain how to do it.