Does anyone know how this was made?

SundownerPhoto · Apr 9, 2025

I was looking at a blog that was discussing B&w printing and this image was on there. It looks like a pre-fab density filter that you can just shoot. Any ideas? I did a search and didn’t come up with anything.

Erik L · Apr 9, 2025

Look up Kodak projection scale I think

SundownerPhoto · Apr 9, 2025

That’s what it is! Thanks!

Sirius Glass · Apr 9, 2025

SundownerPhoto said:
I was looking at a blog that was discussing B&w printing and this image was on there. It looks like a pre-fab density filter that you can just shoot. Any ideas? I did a search and didn’t come up with anything.

I have one of those, they were made by Kodak.

Welcome to Photrio!

AnselMortensen · Apr 9, 2025

I think Delta 1 is still making them?

MattKing · Apr 9, 2025

I could have a great collection of those prints, If I so desired .
They make great test print for later toning though.
Our Darkroom Group have one such scale for each of the ~8 enlargers in the darkroom. Their vintages vary greatly.
They are particularly useful for those of us who either have temporary darkrooms, or work in other people's darkrooms. They speed the "getting dialed in" process.
I think this internet image is from one even older than my oldest one!

RalphLambrecht · Apr 9, 2025

Sirius Glass said:
I have one of those, they were made by Kodak.

Welcome to Photrio!

Yes, the idea was to place the scale ont your paper before enlarging the negative into a representative area,process and see which of the wedges look best. The result would give you an idea of which time would give you the best print. worked so-so doing a teststrip in 1/3 f/stop increments worksbetter.

ic-racer · Apr 9, 2025

I still had one from the 1970s and used it when teaching my kids how to print. Now my kids are older and just last week I was teaching my 18yo my secret technique.

MattKing · Apr 9, 2025

They are fairly similar to a step wedge, and in a pinch can sort of substitute for one.

Sirius Glass · Apr 10, 2025

MattKing said:
They are fairly similar to a step wedge, and in a pinch can sort of substitute for one.

Yes, but pinches hurt. Is look one of those exposure aids on eBay.

reddesert · Apr 10, 2025

Projection Print Scale, as said above, Kodak made them and Delta still does: https://www.freestylephoto.com/41621-Delta-Projection-Print-Scale

Dang they've gotten expensive, $18 ? I think the Delta one used to be 8-10 bucks. Anyway, it's a test strip maker. It has two nice features: it's a bit easier than a manual test strip, and it puts pie wedges over the center. So if you have a central subject /region of interest like a face portrait, all of your wedges include some of the face, versus a test strip where the beginning and end can be off the main subject. If you want to make The Fine Print they may be a bit crude, but to get a decent exposure quickly they can be helpful.

Klaus Mähring · Sunday at 10:47 AM

It is quite an amazing tool in the darkroom. Jobo also made those, and you can still find them on ebay.

darkroommike · Sunday at 10:49 AM

SundownerPhoto said:
I was looking at a blog that was discussing B&w printing and this image was on there. It looks like a pre-fab density filter that you can just shoot. Any ideas? I did a search and didn’t come up with anything.

It's a Projection print Scale, made first by Kodak and now by Delta. It's not a useless tool but continued use can make it a bit of a "crutch". I used to loan mine out to absolute beginners when they first get started.

As to how it was/is made, early ones were contact printed from a "master" later ones might be litho printed.

Does anyone know how this was made?

SundownerPhoto

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Does anyone know how this was made?

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