Kontakttrükina

Kontakttrükina is a term originating from Estonian, often translated as "contact print" or "contact photography." It refers to a photographic printing technique where photographic paper or film is placed in direct contact with a negative or an object, and then exposed to light. This process bypasses the need for an enlarger, which is typically used to project an image from a negative onto photographic paper at a larger size.

The primary characteristic of kontakttrükina is that the resulting print will be the same size as the negative or the object used. This method is often employed for creating photograms, where objects like leaves, lace, or other three-dimensional items are placed directly onto the photographic paper and then exposed. The light passes around the objects, creating silhouettes and revealing their textures and forms on the developed print.

Historically, contact printing was a common method, especially in the early days of photography. It was also used for proofing, where photographers would make contact prints of multiple negatives on a single sheet of paper to quickly review their images before selecting negatives for enlargement. The aesthetic of kontakttrükina can be quite distinct, often exhibiting a raw, unmanipulated quality due to the direct contact between the emulsion and the subject or negative. The absence of enlargement means that any imperfections or dust on the negative are directly transferred to the print without magnification.