Originally posted by KungPOW Sadly I don't have access to a darkroom.
What if I have no way to print the negative myself? Is there something to look for in the negative?
Is there anything I can look for after the negative has been scanned?
Thanks for the info though.
The exposed tongue should be very dark, almost opaque, the edge writing should be nice and dense without being smeared (overdeveloped).
Also, the base density (the unexposed parts of the film between the frames, unexposed tongue, etc) should be a very pale gray, not quite clear, but very, very nearly so.
If this criteria is met, you have sufficient development, though this is a really vague method.
Pretty much, if the film scans and prints well, it is properly exposed and developed. If it needs a bunch of contrast dumped into it and has poor shadow detail, then it is probably under exposed, if it needs a bunch of contrast dumped into it and has sucky edge writing, it is likely under developed.
If it has lots of shadow detail but the highlights are blocked up, it is over exposed, if it has good, but not excessive shadow detail, and blocked highlights, it is likely over developed.
Hopefully I'm not confusing anything....