Basic Photography Course

CREATIVE CONTROLS IN PRINTING

Because of the many ways you can control the final

appearance of the photograph, enlarging is a creative
procedure. You can use printing exposure to make your
prints lighter or darker, and the contrast can be altered
by your choice of printing filters. You, also, have other
creative controls available, such as cropping
(composition), dodging, printing, or burning in,
vignetting, diffusing, correcting image distortion, and so
on.

You should devote as much attention and care to

printing as to making the original negative; otherwise,
you do an injustice to your skill and reputation as a
photographer.

Figure 11-11.Grain focuser.

GRAIN FOCUSER

Focusing the negative image on the enlarging paper

can be difficult when the negatives are dense or have no
sharply defined lines that you can see in the projected
image.

Focusing is easier and more consistent when you

use a magnifier or grain focuser. A grain focuser
magnifies the negative grain structure by 10X to 25X.
This magnification allows you to focus the actual grain
structure of the image. A grain focuser provides you with
the sharpest focus you can get from a given negative.

The projected image of the negative is reflected by

the mirror of the grain focuser to the eyepiece. The
distance from the mirror to the eyepiece is equal to the
distance from the mirror to the easel (fig. 11-11);
therefore, when you see a sharp image of the grain
structure in the magnifier, the image projected on the
easel is equally sharp. The area of the negative visible
in the magnifier is extremely small. You are not actually
looking at details of the image but at the grain structure
of the negative that actually produces the image.

To use the grain focuser, you should enlarge and

compose the picture normally on an easel. Place the
grain focuser on the easel with a sheet of focusing paper
in it, so a central portion of the projected image reflects
from the mirror into the eyepiece of the grain focuser.
Examine the grain structure through the eyepiece and

adjust the fine focus until the grain structure is in
absolutely sharp focus.

COMPOSITION AND CROPPING

Printing only a part of the entire image recorded on

a negative is called "cropping." Cropping is the

procedure in printing used to improve the composition
of the photograph. Most photographs are intended to
present an idea or provide the viewer with some type of
information. The better the composition of the finished
picture, the better it communicates the intended

message.

Photographic composition should be controlled or

established with the camera when the picture is taken;
however, the majority of photographs can be improved
during the printing process by cropping. You can use
cropping to eliminate distracting or unwanted scene
elements, to straighten a tilted horizon, to alter the center
of interest, or to strengthen leading lines.

Since personal opinions differ, there are no

hard-and-fast rules for cropping; however, the following

are rules of thumb that may help you produce pictures

that are pleasing to most people:

Crop out any elements at the edges of the picture

area that may draw attention from the intended center of
interest.

The center of interest should not normally be

located in the physical center of the print. The center of
interest should be somewhat to the left or right and a
little below or above the physical center of the picture.
The exact location for the center of interest depends on
the subject and the format of the print.

Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines should

not divide the photograph into equal parts. The horizon
in a photograph should be absolutely horizontal. The
vertical lines of buildings, with one exception, should

11-15

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Basic Photography Course

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> CREATIVE CONTROLS IN PRINTING Because of the many ways you can control the final appearance of the photograph, enlarging is a creative procedure. You can use printing exposure to make your prints lighter or darker, and the contrast can be altered by your choice of printing filters. You, also, have other creative controls available, such as cropping (composition), dodging, printing, or burning in, vignetting, diffusing, correcting image distortion, and so on. You should devote as much attention and care to printing as to making the original negative; otherwise, you do an injustice to your skill and reputation as a photographer. Figure 11-11.Grain focuser. GRAIN FOCUSER Focusing the negative image on the enlarging paper can be difficult when the negatives are dense or have no sharply defined lines that you can see in the projected image. Focusing is easier and more consistent when you use a magnifier or grain focuser. A grain focuser magnifies the negative grain structure by 10X to 25X. This magnification allows you to focus the actual grain structure of the image. A grain focuser provides you with the sharpest focus you can get from a given negative. The projected image of the negative is reflected by the mirror of the grain focuser to the eyepiece. The distance from the mirror to the eyepiece is equal to the distance from the mirror to the easel (fig. 11-11); therefore, when you see a sharp image of the grain structure in the magnifier, the image projected on the easel is equally sharp. The area of the negative visible in the magnifier is extremely small. You are not actually looking at details of the image but at the grain structure of the negative that actually produces the image. To use the grain focuser, you should enlarge and compose the picture normally on an easel. Place the grain focuser on the easel with a sheet of focusing paper in it, so a central portion of the projected image reflects from the mirror into the eyepiece of the grain focuser. Examine the grain structure through the eyepiece and adjust the fine focus until the grain structure is in absolutely sharp focus. COMPOSITION AND CROPPING Printing only a part of the entire image recorded on a negative is called "cropping." Cropping is the procedure in printing used to improve the composition of the photograph. Most photographs are intended to present an idea or provide the viewer with some type of information. The better the composition of the finished picture, the better it communicates the intended message. Photographic composition should be controlled or established with the camera when the picture is taken; however, the majority of photographs can be improved during the printing process by cropping. You can use cropping to eliminate distracting or unwanted scene elements, to straighten a tilted horizon, to alter the center of interest, or to strengthen leading lines. Since personal opinions differ, there are no hard-and-fast rules for cropping; however, the following are rules of thumb that may help you produce pictures that are pleasing to most people: Crop out any elements at the edges of the picture area that may draw attention from the intended center of interest. The center of interest should not normally be located in the physical center of the print. The center of interest should be somewhat to the left or right and a little below or above the physical center of the picture. The exact location for the center of interest depends on the subject and the format of the print. Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines should not divide the photograph into equal parts. The horizon in a photograph should be absolutely horizontal. The vertical lines of buildings, with one exception, should 11-15 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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