Paper grades, in plain words
Paper grade controls how quickly the print goes from white to black. A low grade stretches the tones out; a high grade squeezes them together. With variable-contrast paper the grade comes from the filter, not the box.
- Grade 0–1 for a dense negative or a scene with deep shadows and bright sky.
- Grade 2–3 for a normal negative. Most of my prints end here.
- Grade 4–5 for a flat negative, fog, or overcast light.
Set the exposure for the highlights first, then pick the grade for the shadows. Changing both at once is the quickest way to waste an afternoon.