Making Darkroom Masks, part 2: The Unsharp Mask

Sometimes your prints need a little help beyond the basics of dodging and burning. Masks for your negatives can offer many different kind of manipulations, such as sharpening, contrast reduction, specific dodging, etc. This video discusses how to make an unsharp mask, which, despite the name, increases the apparent sharpness of a print. The mask itself is a very slightly blurry print made on a piece of film. The mask should be very light, but still retain detail in the upper midtowns and lower highlights and very low contrast. I demonstrate how to make the mask and the effect of incorrect masks on the final print. Kodak Q-80 Contact Printing Light: Dick Blick registration pins: Patreon: You can support this channel by purchasing a print from T-shirts designed by yours truly at