ASSESSING NEGATIVES

• Examine and evaluate the negatives - frame by frame - using a magnifying loupe.
• A good negative shows a full range of tones from dark to light.  Details should be clearly visible in both shadows (the clear areas) and the highlights (the dark areas).
• The deepest shadows should be as clear as the unexposed film edges.  These (sprocket) edges should be clear and the film type and film numbers should be visible.

Remember:

• Light areas in the negative = dark areas on the print.

​​

When evaluating negatives, look for:

• Contrast - changes from light to dark tones
• Details in the shadows - the clear parts of the negative.  This can identify the correct exposure.
• Sharpness - check through a 10x magnifying loupe for the quality of the negative.

​​

Under-exposed Negative

• The under-exposed negative is too dark with poor shadow details and contrasts.  The negative looks pale and thin.

Over-exposed Negative

• The over-exposed negative is too light with poor highlight details.

Fogging

• Fogging is an ill-defined dark area on the negative.  If the fogging extends outside the frame area, it would suggest that the film was fogged outside the camera.

Buckling

• Buckling is when the processing chemical fails to reach part of the film, leaving it undeveloped.  this would most likely occur with the film being buckled in the spiral.