Steps to make a contact sheet

Below are the steps to create your first contact sheet:

• cut your negatives into strips of 6 and place them in a clear file (located below turn in slot)
• take negatives & photo paper into darkroom
• get a plate of glass from wood shelves
• zoom enlarger out so light source is larger than paper/negatives
• set aperture to f8
• set timer to 3 seconds
• cut small strip of photo paper (test strip)
• place paper, then negatives (shiny side up), then glass under enlarger
• cover all but 2" of test strip with cardboard envelope
• expose by pressing timer button
• move envelope to uncover 2" more of paper
• expose
• move envelope
• expose
• move
• expose
• Develop test strip (follow times above chemicals)
• rinse for 5 minutes
• dry

Your test strip is going to show you how long you need to expose your full size contact sheet.  Pick the exposure that has both black and white, but is not too dark/light.  The darker the test strip is, the more light was exposed.

be sure to save your test strip, you will be turning this in.

Once you know the amount of time to expose your contact sheet, you are ready to make one!

• Place an entire sheet of paper under your enlarger
• negatives on top
• glass on top
• press timer the number of times indicated on test strip (do not change the timer, just expose that number of "pushes")
• develop through chemicals
• rinse
• dry
• pat yourself on the back if it all worked out!