Wet Photography - Test Strip and Final Print

1. Open the pack of photographic paper and take out a sheet. Cut sample strips using the scissors or the paper cutter. It is best to cut the paper lengthwise.
2. Now place the sample strip on the paper magazine with the emulsion side up. Select an important area of the motif which preferably includes shadows, medium gray tones and also highlights.
3. With the help of a piece of cardboard, various exposure times can appear on a single sheet of paper. The aperture setting remains constant in this context. First expose the paper without any mask at all. Then cover about 20% of the rest of the paper with the cardboard, followed by 40% and finally 80%. In our example, the exposure setting of 5 s on the sample results in the exposure series: 5, 10, 15 etc. After developing, you can select the correct time for additional samples or for the enlargement

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4. The photographic paper should be put in the developer fairly quickly. There, it should immediately be fully submerged in the chemical solution.
5. The developing time begins with submersion and should at least correspond to the manufacturer's specifications, and that goes for the samples too! Moderately extending the time usually results in better blacks and highlights. Agitate the paper gently and uniformly during the entire developing time.
6. The fixing bath completes processing. after about 30 s carefully inspect the result. Samples only need to be fixed briefly. They are washed and then inspected in daylight.
7. You can now make the final enlargement. The samples have shown you which exposure is best.