Evening star., 1951-05-13

In The Stars snapshot contest.
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First OF a Series OF Tpo ArticlesJ
There are good Photographic
prints and there are bad ones
You see both kinds every day. But,
for the next two weeks we are 60
ing to talk mostly about good
prints and how they are made.
It's tough job to make a good
print from poor negative. It can
be done-thanks to the people who
work in the research laboratories
of Photographic manufacturers.
After many years of hard work and
millions of dollars of expense for
research projects, photo scientists
have come up with printing papers
tnat make it possible to get an &C
ceptable print from almost any
negative that Is worthy Of the
name.
So our best bet is to make good
quality negatives that can be
printed on normal contrast paper
with a minimum Of lodging and
other control work. Any camera
fan can do this; we have no hesi-
Itation in making this fiat state
ment because any one who has a
camera to work with that is in
good operating condition has no
excuse for taking poor quality
negatives into the printing room.
Even the photographer who does
not own an exposure meter can
Insure getting a properly exposed
negative by making three shots at
different exposures. One Is bound
to be good. This may seem to be
a costly procedure but actually is a
sure way to save money, especially
liz the camera fan likes to make en-
Ilargements. Those 8x10 and 1lxl4
sheets of paper run into money If
you throw many into the waste
can.
Advantage of Three Shots.
The desirability of shooting
three widely separated exposures
Iof each scene becomes more ap-
parent when we consider the fact
that there can be slipups in the
darkroom even when developing
the films by the time-temperature
method. If, for example. your
darkroom thermometer should be
off by a few degrees. a correctly
exposed negative could suffer
greatly in the process OF develop
ment. If the thermometer is of
one way, the negative would be
underdeveloped or the other way
it would be overdeveloped. But,
if you have three negatives. one
of which is overexposed. one un-
derexposed and one just about
right, even though an error is
made in timing the development
one is sure to be adequately pro-
vided for even though the other
two have to be discarded.
Assuming that we will have a
supply of good negatives to work
with, let's move on to the subject
of printing papers. The beginner
will soon discover that there is
wide choice. Some may be used
for contact printing, others for
engagements and still others may
be used either way. There are
many brands to choose from. We
have no recommendations on this
score because the product of any
of the well-known manufacturers
is certain to please YOU If you
follow the printed directions.
We do urge, however, that you
try to restrict yourself to one
brand of paper until you are well
schooled in making prints. Try
to select brand or type Of paper
that offers a wide range in degrees
of contrasts. This will enable you
Ito make good prints from most
any of your negatives. And while
you are at it, adopt the recon-
mendation of the papermaker as
Ito the developer. The pet devel-
oper which may be urged on you
|by a friend may be just right for
the paper he uses but you can't
count on its working for you.
Stick to One Brand.
] Jumping from one brand of
paper to another will only confuse
you and make it more difficult for
you to learn how to make the
kind of prints that are admired.
Just as we have repeatedly ad-
vised beginners to stick to one
type for film, so we recommend
|the use Of one brand of paper and
one developer for processing the
prints. You feel confident and at
lease with them in q short time
Just as you do with well worn
Ipair of shoes. Brands of paper
differ in speed just as do films
!, and going from one to another
!. will only make confusion and
5 waste.
We have mentioned the fact
!. that printing papers are offered
lin varying contrast degrees. The
!, lone which should be your ultimate
goal is contrast paper No. 2. This
lis the designation given usually
Ito paper. suitable for printing a
normal, well-balanced negative.
NO. l paper is a soft paper, de-
tIsigned to correct the faults Of a
,Inegative that has excessive con-
.'trast. Grades 3 and 4 arc paners