Re: [Leica] making contact prints

["Joan & Ken Lee" <klee16@home.com>]

Ted,

Can you recommend a archival type clear page sleeves that come close to
fitting on an 8X10 sheet. I have several makes of 6 and 7 strip sheets and
they all result in at least 1/4 inch missing from the top & bottom of the
sheet. I have tried to find the  81/2 X 11 paper but it is special order and
expensive.

Any common sense tips?

Ken

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Ted Grant" <tedgrant@home.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: April 19, 2000 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] making contact prints


> >
> > Andrew Moore wrote:
> >
> > > I usually don't make contact sheets from my (OT: Leica)
> > > 35 mm negatives because I simply don't have a way of
> > > doing it with good results.  I'd like to start making contact
> > > sheets now.  Is there any equipment or techniques that
> > > would really help here, particularly for holding a set of
> > > negative strips (4 frames per) aligned and flat while the
> > > exposure is made?<<<<<<<<<<<
>
> Hi Andrew,
>
> This method may have already been covered, however it the event it
> hasn't:  This is fast, efficient and gets the proofing of 3-4 or 30-40
> rolls of film out of the way quickly.
>
> Put enlarger head up to cover base of enlarger with light.  You  don't
> need to stop down, just let her have it wide open, helps cut down on
> printing time.
>
> Buy a contact printer,  several on the market. As soon as your negs are
> dry immediately cut and sleeve in the archival type clear page sleeves
> that hold 6 or 7 strips of film.
>
> Here you must determine if you want 7 strips of 5 negs each or 6 strips
> of 6.   Either fits on a sheet of 8X10.   No big deal as they're only
> contacts and that you see yourself or someone who truly knows how to
> read contacts.  Never, never never show them to a client who is not
> skilled with a loupe or is accustomed to looking at contacts.  If you do
> you'll have more damn grief than you can shake a stick at.  ( "gee I
> can't see these little pictures, can they be made bigger, don't you have
> a bigger camera?" ) etc. etc.
>
> With lights out and safe lights on,  contact printer with paper
> inserted...."shiny side up," lay sheet of sleeved film on paper. close
> down glass, apply pressure and hit the light.  Don't worry about the
> quality of printing through the plastic sleeves they print just fine,
> in the event anyone tells you that it's a no-no!  Forget it!  ....this
> comes from multi years of experience of using this method with contacts
> going to some of the finest photo editors in the country.
>
> Whatever you do.....DO NOT FIDDLE WITH TRYING TO LAY OUT 6 OR 7
> INDIVIDUAL STRIPS OF FILM! You'll go absoloutely crazy , pure utter
> madness to attempt this micky mouse method!!
>
> The secret for sharp contact sheets is...   " A: sharp negatives!"
> B: Followed by pressure on the glass to maintain absolute contact of
> film to paper.
>
> Make one test exposure sheet, soup it, if it looks OK bang off the rest
> of them one right after the other.  If you have ten rolls, expose all
> ten rolls, and as you do each one just put the exposed sheet of paper to
> one side in an empty covered paper box.  When all rolls are exposed,
> take the bunch of them, feed them quickly into the developer and soup
> all at once and  contact printing is over.  :)
>
> Remember like everything else photographic..........keep it simple!
> Contacts are no big deal, but they do need to be of a quality that you
> can read well.
>
> so there you are, get your ass in gear and get on with it! :-)
>
> ted