The following explains the practical procedures of how to make test strips for printing.

You will need to know how to mix chemicals for your darkroom work, whether for film processing of printing, so if you are new to mixing chemicals or are unsure about the procedure in any way please read my article How to mix chemicals before continuing.

Definitions and Terminology

What is a test strip?

A test strip is a piece of printing paper that has been exposed to a negative in the enlarger using a sequence of increasing exposure times. The sequence of exposure times is normally in discrete 'steps'.
Making a test strip is the first step on the way to making a new print from a negative because test strips are used to find both the exposure time and the contrast grade required for the print.
Once processed, the image on a test strip from the negative will show a series of 'steps'. These steps will show an image that goes from light to dark in clearly visible bands.

Both the size of the test strip and the number of steps created on it will depend on the needs of the individual photographer and the image being printed. There is no right or wrong about this; it's what suits you.
For example, some photographers make test strips using large pieces of paper (or even a full sheet) to show more of the image and allow them to have more 'steps' on the test to show a wider range of exposure times. Other photographers prefer to work with smaller test strips and fewer steps to explore small areas of the image such as just a portion of a sky. For many there is also the cost of materials to be considered since printing paper is not cheap to buy, so using smaller test strips makes sense.

What is a test piece?

A test piece is usually the second step towards a print and is similar to a test strip except the test piece only receives one exposure time (or two when split-grade printing) rather than a sequence of exposures like a test strip.
You make a test piece only after you have made one or more test strips to find the best exposure time for the image area being tested.
Often the test piece will be bigger than the original test strip because it is to be used to check more of the image area once the print 'base exposure time' has been found.

Making test strips and test pieces is a normal and essential part of the joy and fun of printing black and white negatives. It is virtually impossible to make a print without at least first making tests to establish both the exposure for the print and then the contrast grade of paper required.

Before diving in let's look at an overview of the method.

Overview of Procedures

• Prepare working areas
• Set easel to desired print shape/size
• With negative inserted, set enlarger to obtain desired print size
• Place piece of print paper where the high values (light tones) of the image are on the easel
• Set a starting time on the timer and decide the sequence increments
• Expose the paper in four steps
• Process the test strip in the same way you will process the final print. Be consistent!
• Assess the test strip and re-test as required
• Make a test piece at the single best exposure time

OK, let's now learn exactly how we make test strips and test pieces.

Equipment checklist:

• Enlarger, enlarger timer, focus finder, print easel.
• Set of multigrade printing filters (or enlarger with colour head). The filters can be either the above or below the lens type. I will assume we are using the below the lens type since they are usually easier to use in practice.
• Piece of 10x8 or A4 black cartridge paper (or thin black card).
• Minimum of three, ideally four, print processing trays (one each for dev, stop, fix, wash).
• Set of 3 print tongs.
• Process timer or clock/watch (to time development etc.
• Black and white printing paper of your choice.
• Scissors to cut print paper into test pieces.
• Blower brush to remove dust from negs and neg carrier.
• Wooden pegs or print clips on a cord over the sink to hang prints to dry (or use a print drying rack e.g. made by Paterson).

Stage 1 - Making test strips

I recommend the following procedure to make all of your test strips – forever!
You can use the same procedure for both contact sheets from a whole roll of negative strips and for printing an enlargement of a single negative.
The following describes how to make test strips for a print but the method is the same for making contact sheets.

After you have prepared a negative in the enlarger the steps are:

1. With the room lights off and the safelights on close the lens aperture 2 or 3 stops down.
2. Cut a sheet of print paper into strips to use for making tests. For 10x8 paper cut the sheet into four strips across the short side. This gives you four strips of around 2.5x8inches.
3. Put one strip on the enlarger easel in the area you want to test.
4. Set your enlarger timer to a starting time of your choice (I recommend and will assume 4 seconds) then start the timer to expose the whole test piece.
5. Use your black card and cover one quarter of the test strip from one side (left or right – your choice). Hold the card above the print paper surface but as close as possible to obtain a sharp edge on the test between the steps.
6. Expose the paper again for another 4 seconds.
7. Move the black card to cover half of the strip, set the timer to 8 seconds and expose again.
8. Finally, cover three-quarters of the strip, set the timer to 16 seconds and make the fourth and final exposure. You now have a strip of print paper that has received four different exposures in the sequence: 4, 8, 16, 32secs. Always start your first test strip with this time sequence. The idea is to ‘surround’ the correct time and work in from the ends by adjusting the time sequence for subsequent test strips.
9. Process the strip in the normal way. Once the test has been rinsed, use a squeegee to remove excess water from both sides ready for assessment.
10. Check your print paper box is closed, then switch on the room lights to assess your test.
11. Repeat this procedure for subsequent test strips changing the start time and refining the sequence increments to home in on the perfect exposure time for the print.

Stage 2 - Making a test piece

1. Once you have determined the best exposure time with test strips, make a ‘test piece’ (a test using just the one best exposure time) and on this test piece examine the depth of the shadows.

Congratulations you now know the most effective way to make test strips to arrive at a print in the least time!

This article only describes how to make test strips and test pieces. To learn fully how to make a print check out: 'Making your first BW print'.