As a long time contact sheet fan, I've imaged having a Photoshop template of a Tri-X contact sheet I could paste my "roll" into. Failing that, the LR print module will suffice.
A bit of reminiscence, I used to work in a pro photo lab in Chicago, color side, but on off-hours, could wonder into the BW side and make enlarged "contact sheets" -- 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 -- of my black and white work. They're still fun to look at.
This is RWB from Les' account. I made a bunch of cutout negative strips for various films/formats quite a while ago. I'll see if I can find them. I used them for mixed digital/film projects to keep a consistent look while printing the film borders from the film shots.
I'm one of those who grew up making contact or proof sheets to see and edit a 'take'. Always loved the magic. I have a gallery show of concert performance photography from the 70's and 80's up in a museum now. When deciding what pix to hang I had the idea of re-creating contact sheets from shows I would be showing. I made six 17 X 22 prints of the contact sheets from select shows so that a viewer can see the final and the possible choices as well as how quickly the artists and stage can change from 1-36 frames. People really enjoy it. To get an original look I placed the negatives on a light table, covered with a piece of glass and photographed them from above. Next time I'll try the print dialogue in LRCC.
What a fantastic idea. I would stick with your way as it is fine and probably more attractive with real negative strips. If you want something similar for digital then the LR print module can make shortwork of it. Ps. I long time ago I cut out the images from real negative strips of various formats and films and made them available on my old blog... I'll try to find those.
Ps. this is RWB i just happen to be using Les' account as we're working together today at his studio.
Thanks so much. The one problem I had was that the prints of the contact sheets were made to hang but orientation of single images changed throughout a roll. I would prefer to have a 1-36 scenario but ended up doing a little adjusting to keep a sheet all landscape or vertical.
Let me be the contrarian. As much as I appreciate and miss the wet process, contact sheets were legacy as the result of necessity. It was a quick and dirty process to "catalog" and develop a gestalt of the content and general appearance from a series of negatives, much akin to a series of "thumbnails" today. While it might be a fun "mini-project", for old time's sake, its true utility is a bit suspect.
then again technically we have no need for paper books, no need for pens and pencils, no need to physically travel, no need to be in the same physical space with other people, etc, etc.
That's correct and if you read the complete context of my post, you would see that I wasn't focused on technicalities. Rather, contact sheets are a holdover from another time and place, much like rotary phones. Can you create one? Certainly, and it's an interesting project though it has really been obviated by modern technology much like cell phones have replaced the single rotary dial phone in your house. For better or worse, contact sheets are about as necessary as tintypes, plate cameras, or any archaic technique. Now, if you are asking whether the advancements in technology have made us closer, provided for better lives, etc. that's an interesting discussion. Cheers!
I miss them. I miss my darkroom.
Great project! Nothing better than when the contact sheet comes out of the developing tray. Even the digital development tray!
What a great idea -- I'm on it!
As a long time contact sheet fan, I've imaged having a Photoshop template of a Tri-X contact sheet I could paste my "roll" into. Failing that, the LR print module will suffice.
A bit of reminiscence, I used to work in a pro photo lab in Chicago, color side, but on off-hours, could wonder into the BW side and make enlarged "contact sheets" -- 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 -- of my black and white work. They're still fun to look at.
Thanks for the mini project idea.
This is RWB from Les' account. I made a bunch of cutout negative strips for various films/formats quite a while ago. I'll see if I can find them. I used them for mixed digital/film projects to keep a consistent look while printing the film borders from the film shots.
Great post! I shoot with the “Texas Leica” and still develop the negs in the darkroom. I will try out this wonderful idea!!
I'm one of those who grew up making contact or proof sheets to see and edit a 'take'. Always loved the magic. I have a gallery show of concert performance photography from the 70's and 80's up in a museum now. When deciding what pix to hang I had the idea of re-creating contact sheets from shows I would be showing. I made six 17 X 22 prints of the contact sheets from select shows so that a viewer can see the final and the possible choices as well as how quickly the artists and stage can change from 1-36 frames. People really enjoy it. To get an original look I placed the negatives on a light table, covered with a piece of glass and photographed them from above. Next time I'll try the print dialogue in LRCC.
What a fantastic idea. I would stick with your way as it is fine and probably more attractive with real negative strips. If you want something similar for digital then the LR print module can make shortwork of it. Ps. I long time ago I cut out the images from real negative strips of various formats and films and made them available on my old blog... I'll try to find those.
Ps. this is RWB i just happen to be using Les' account as we're working together today at his studio.
Thanks so much. The one problem I had was that the prints of the contact sheets were made to hang but orientation of single images changed throughout a roll. I would prefer to have a 1-36 scenario but ended up doing a little adjusting to keep a sheet all landscape or vertical.
I kind of think that that "wrong" but consistent orientation is part of the charm and authenticity of it... RB
Let me be the contrarian. As much as I appreciate and miss the wet process, contact sheets were legacy as the result of necessity. It was a quick and dirty process to "catalog" and develop a gestalt of the content and general appearance from a series of negatives, much akin to a series of "thumbnails" today. While it might be a fun "mini-project", for old time's sake, its true utility is a bit suspect.
Sure...
then again technically we have no need for paper books, no need for pens and pencils, no need to physically travel, no need to be in the same physical space with other people, etc, etc.
RB
That's correct and if you read the complete context of my post, you would see that I wasn't focused on technicalities. Rather, contact sheets are a holdover from another time and place, much like rotary phones. Can you create one? Certainly, and it's an interesting project though it has really been obviated by modern technology much like cell phones have replaced the single rotary dial phone in your house. For better or worse, contact sheets are about as necessary as tintypes, plate cameras, or any archaic technique. Now, if you are asking whether the advancements in technology have made us closer, provided for better lives, etc. that's an interesting discussion. Cheers!