Processed roll of film, cut into strips in a negative sleeve

Enlarging paper, 8" x 10" variable contrast

Opaque cardboard, about 9 x 11 inches

Contact printer

Place the empty 35mm negative carrier into the enlarger and gently lower the lamphouse onto the carrier

Place proofer under enlarger

Turn on the lamp with the timer switch--make sure it is on "focus" .

Open the lens to maximum aperture (wide open). Adjust the elevation/of the enlarger (careful: remember to release the locking screw of the enlarger column before you attempt to adjust elevation), so that the projected rectangle of light covers the contact printing frame.

Focus the edge of the negative carrier sharply on the base board.

Stop down (less light) the enlarging lens to f 5.6

Adjust the timer to a 3 second exposure.

Open your package of paper--under safe lights only--remove one sheet of paper and cut it up into five strips of 2" x 8". Replace all but one of the strips into your opaque black package. (Careful: do not leave your paper exposed to the safe lights for extended periods of time. Fogging will occur).

Place the paper test strip into the bottom of the contact printer with the. shiny (emulsion side) facing up. Place one film strip onto the test strip, emulsion side (dull side) down. Close the glass cover of your contact proofer.

Using an opaque board, cover all but the first 1/2 of the first frame of the filmstrip;

Expose this area for 3 seconds. Move the cardboard to the next half-frame, etc. and so on until you have made several exposures and have come to the end of the film strip.

Process the strip normally, place it in a print inspection tray and come out into the light to discuss the results with me. Do not be influenced by the images on the test strip!! The correct exposure for your proof sheet is determined by evaluating the printed clear part of the film.

Choose the exposure in which the film base is no longer distinguishable from the background paper-in other words, the exposure which gives you maximum black with the minimum amount of exposure. For example, if the third exposure fulfills these requirements, the correct exposure for your proof sheet is 9 seconds.

Take a full sheet of 8" x 10" paper and put it into the proofing frame. Take your film and arrange it (film emulsion to paper emulsion) on the paper numerically.

Expose the proof for the predetermined 9 (this is only an example, your time will vary) seconds and process normally.

A proper proof will render the following information:

A visual record of your exposures

Information regarding the accuracy of your exposures.

Visual data regarding the contrast of your negatives,

Remember -- a correctly proofed negative will give you a clear initial print.

If the negatives are too dark -- you have overexposed your film

If the negatives are too light -- you have underexposed your film

If the contrast is too high -- you have overdeveloped your film

If the contrast is too low -- you have underdeveloped your film

Check development time and temperature more carefully. .

Check for errors in agitation: too little - may produce dull, flat negatives

too much -- may cause edge density and general unevenness