Mr. Burkholder's suggestion to include a calibration grayscale or step tablet on the negative is mandatory during calibration and and useful when the expressiveness of the final print is less than you desire. It will also save time if you change paper (either negative or photographic), developer, computers, OR if the printer manufacturer changes the print driver.

To test for perfect black and perfect white, I prefer to use a scale with only the upper 10% and lower 10% values (the "high value band" and "low value band" from Step 1).

After the negative has been printed (and dried, if necessary), I have found it useful to place tape across part of the 100% density end of the grayscale, and cut away a strip of negative material in the 0% black end of the grayscale. The tape will prevent any light from reaching the photographic paper and will assure maximum white. The hole will provide extra exposure and assure the maximum black. In this manner, areas of the image with 0% black (Photoshop value 255) will be pure white on the print, and Photoshop value 0 will print as black. Examination of the scales shown enlarged below, will verify correct exposure and contrast, and show any deviation of white and black from the maximum.

There is a strong possibility that the negative WILL change slightly over time, as will the light source, AND your paper emulsion.

MY Check List Items for Making a Negative for Silver Printing

1. Prepare the Image, ready for output, expressively correct when viewed on whatever medium was chosen to calibrate the system (the monitor or a direct digital print).
   • Resize file?
   • Sharpen?
2. Add the Grayscale if desired (highly recommended if space available)
3. Flatten the Image (Layers/Flatten Image), if layers have been used in the preparation, or as the result of adding the grayscale.
4. Flip Horizontal (Image/Rotate Canvas/Flip Horizontal). Since the image is to be contact printed "face-to-face" with the printing paper, a mirror image must be used for the negative.
5. Adjust Curves (Image/Adjust/Curves). Apply the appropriate curve (created with the Transfer Function in Step 3) for the negative material, printer setup, ink, and printing paper to be used.
6. Convert to Indexed Color mode (Image/Mode/Indexed Color), to prepare to invert and colorize with the "Color Table".
7. Build and Apply the Color Table to the image (Image/Mode/Color Table).
8. If the Transfer Function (Page Setup/Transfer Function) is to be used to adjust the overall density of the negative, be SURE that it is properly set prior to printing!
9. Print the Negative, using EXACTLY the same material and printer settings used to calibrate the system.

BE SURE to perform ALL image manipulation items (1 thru 5) BEFORE converting to INDEXED COLOR mode (item 6)!