Building the Shadow Mask
With the original negative in the enlarger and not disturbing any of the setup:
TEST: [Note: This is done in tandem with the positive test]
- Make a guess at the exposure time and development concentration and time.
- Expose a small piece of 2556 film cut from a piece of film from the same box as will be used.
- Choose the same part of the image that was used for the positive test.
- Develop at concentration for time
- stop
- fix
- rinse
- evaluate on light table
Repeat above TEST steps until the shadow mask looks right when registered with the positive.
Enter date, image size, f-stop, exposure time, developer concentration and time into notebook.WARNING: Once the enlarger is set up do NOT move anything, do NOT focus, do NOT change f-stop,
do NOT move easel, do NOT bump enlarger. BE CAREFUL !
MAKING THE SHADOW MASK:
After rinsing the positive and shadow mask may be viewed in registration to check if fine adjustments are needed such as increasing or decreasing local densities.
- Expose a sheet of 2556 film for the exposure time
- Develop at the concentration and time
- Stop 20 sec.
- Fix 1 - 2 min.
- Rinse 1 min.
- Hypo clear 1 min.
- Rinse 1 min.
- Place on light table emulsion side up and blot with paper towel.
- Using a cotton ball, spread Potassium Ferricyanide solution over the mask for 30 sec. to 2 min..
- Using a paper towel, blot up the solution.
- Using a cotton ball, spread fixer over the mask.
- Lift the mask by a corner and drain.
- Place into fixer for 15 sec.
- Rinse 1 min.
- Hypo clear 1 min. If any density adjustments are needed, do them at this time. [see section on manipulations]
- Wash 10 min.
- Wet 30 sec.
- Dry