Do we really need an enlarger to make contact prints?

If I use a lampshade instead?

No.  Of course you don't need an enlarger.  Just a 40 to 100 w bulb will work fine and dandy.  Of course, exposure times will vary depending on wattage and distance from source.

Skip the lampshade.  It won't help a thing.

I will try than.

I've even tried just turning on the room lights foir a few seconds, not perfect but it worked.

That's what I do.  You could plug your lamp onto a darkroom timer for more control.  They are cheap and much smaller to keep around than an enlarger.

If you are using enlarging paper, a 15 watt bulb is plenty.  Hang the bulb three of four feet (one meter) above the paper/negative/glass sandwich.  Cover the paper with matt board, turn on the light.  I use a metronome, but a watch with a second hand (or digital watch) will work.  Quickly pull the matt board off the paper, counting "go, 1, 2, 3, 4,..."  You can get quite precise with this method.  If you have a musical background, it is easy to get down to a third or even a quarter second. (1, e and ah, 2 e and ah,...)  When you hit the end of the exposure, quickly slide the matt board back over the paper and turn off the light.

Another way -

proof paper is a slow paper that uses sunlight to expose it- think 5 to 15 minutes

Some of my images are 40 years old and still look like new.

the paper yields a warm tone.

the secret is to fix it with dilute fixer - not mentioned anywhere I know.

do not remember where I learned this trick - probably photo school

this paper was used by studio's to give a temporary image to clients that would slowly fade

It was a Kodak product - think it was called print out proof paper or sun proof paper

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/pro … tive-paper link to similar product

People used to use contact printers for making contact prints. Basically a contact printer is just a box with a light bulb, a switch, a sheet of glass on the top and a lid that closes to hold the negative and paper in close contact.

I used to have a 5x7 metal contact printer that was made by FR, I think. It cost about $10 new. Despite inflation, if you can find one on eBay, you might get one for less today.

At the other end of the spectrum, I had an 8x10 Time-o-Lite contact printer that had, as I recall, 36 1-watt Argon bulbs, each with its own switch, for dodging and burning. It also had a rheostat and a built-in timer. I think that one was about $150. I saw one on eBay a few months ago that was going for about $30 at the time.

The second newspaper where I worked had a custom-made wooden contact printer for making a contact print of an entire, uncut roll of 35mm film. The print surface (glass) was 3 inches x about 5.5 feet. The newspaper bought contact print paper (Azo, I think) in 3 inch x 250-foot rolls. There were a couple of pieces of masking tape on the counter top to show the proper length. Some people would cut the paper with scissors. Most of us would just tear off a strip of paper.

There are all sorts of options.

I tried today and it worked very well.

I used my watch to count the seconds. If I put it near my ear I can hear it.

I made 30 contact prints of 6x4.5 medium format frames, frame by frame. It is small but charming.

Tomorrow I will try 6x7 medio format frames. I wonder if I can sell it.

There we go my contact print.



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