1. Making a Contact Sheet
Yr 11 Photography

2. Making a Contact Sheet Overview Also called a proof sheet
Place negatives in holder
Use enlarger to process
Expose a test strip
Develop test strip
Check which test is best and use this exposure time for full contact sheet
Clean up and rinse trays

3. Making a Contact Sheet The enlarger Turn on enlarger
Raise and lower enlarger head so that light will cover entire contact print
Set aperture – turn to full light and then turn back 2 or 3 clicks
Focus enlarger – check that light produces ‘crisp’ edge
Turn off enlarger (or use filter over light)

4. Making a Contact Sheet Making a test strip
Place film in negative sleeve on the enlarger
Take a ‘test strip’ of photographic paper and place this under a good negative strip that you want to test
Make sure all other photo paper is in the box away from light
Cover all negatives with cardboard leaving a 1cm strip exposed
Press timer for 2 seconds exposure. Slide cardboard along 1cm. Set timer for 2 seconds. Repeat until test strip fully exposed.

5. Developing test strip & Contact sheet
Making a Contact Sheet
Developing test strip & Contact sheet
Chemicals
Developer (120 mls rodinal : mls 20°)
Stop bath 20°)
Fixing agent (120 mls fixer : 1080 mls 20°)
Hypo clearing agent (wash – 20°)
Follow the same process as for developing negatives
Developer – 2 mins – gently agitate
Stop bath – 1 min – gently agitate
Fixer – 2 mins – gently agitate
Wash – as long as you possibly can under running water

6. Making a Contact Sheet
Safety precautions
Avoid contact with skin and eyes
Wash hands after using chemicals
Use tongs to transfer photos between trays
Use red safe light
Light indicator outside darkroom
Don’t eat or drink in darkroom

7. Making a Contact Sheet Some resources