Contactbeelden

Contactbeelden, also known as contact prints, are photographic prints made by placing a film or photographic plate in direct contact with printing paper and then exposing them to light. This process differs from traditional photographic printing, which uses an enlarger to project an image onto the paper. The resulting image has a similar size to the original negative or photographic plate.

Historically, contact printing was a common method for producing prints, especially in the early days of photography and for scientific or documentary purposes where a faithful reproduction of the original image size was important. It was also used by artists and photographers who preferred the aesthetic qualities of a contact print, such as its detailed texture and the absence of grain enlargement that can occur with projection printing.

The process is relatively straightforward. A negative or photographic plate is placed emulsion-side down onto a piece of photographic paper, also emulsion-side up. The two are held in close contact, often by sandwiching them between sheets of glass or within a contact printing frame. Light is then shone through the negative, exposing the paper. After exposure, the paper is developed, fixed, and washed, just like any other photographic print.

While modern digital photography and advanced printing techniques have largely supplanted contact printing for commercial or mass production, it remains a relevant technique for fine art photographers and those interested in historical photographic processes. It offers a direct, unmanipulated representation of the original image and can produce unique visual characteristics.