WHAT IS A Proper Proof?

 A Proper Proof is a darkroom photography term refering to a contact sheet (proof sheet) made in a controlled procedure practiced by Ansel Adams and described by Fred Picker. A contact sheet is made by placing the film negative(s) in direct contact with the light sensitive paper and exposed to light by an over-head light or photo enlarger. The contact sheet is made "proper" by exposing for the minimum time to make the clear areas in the film black, ignoring the images.  This is calibrated by exposing test strips of the clear edge of the film, not the image area.

Instructions for making a Proper Proof