The Ultimate Darkroom Printing Test Strip Maker
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The coolest way to make darkroom test prints this side of the Dektol River.
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Model information
- Source
- Printables
- Category
- Photo & Video
- License
- Creative Commons — Attribution — Share Alike
Before you read any further, you should know that this model has been supplanted by Test Strip Omega.
It's unnecessary! It's over-engineered! It's...
- Effective. Consistently prints the exact same piece of image area onto each of 4 test strip sections, so you can make 1:1 comparisons between different exposures.
- Efficient. Each test strip is 2.5 x 4", or 1/8 of a standard 8x10 sheet.
- Flexible. Height adjusts to match focus with virtually any easel.
- Fiber Friendly. The carriage and optional drying rack defy stubbornly curling paper and keep things nice and flat.
- Fun. Magnets align each section of the test strip as you advance it. Clinically proven to be weirdly satisfying.
- 3D Printer Optimized. You'll find no supports, tough overhangs/bridges, or non-chamfered edges here.
Bill of Materials
- (1x) Of each .stl file
- (8x) #6 x 3/8" screws (if you have anything similar, try those first)
- (10x) 6x3mm neodymium magnets
- (4x) M5x20 bolts - I used M5x25 hex heads that I had on hand, and found them unnecessarily long, but they work fine
- (4x) M5 hex nuts
- A little superglue. I like this gel stuff
- Some sticky poster tack for the feet helps the housing stay put while you're advancing the test strip
Video Instructions
I highly recommend black Jarees Matte Black PETG - it's more matte and less reflective than any other black filament I can find, as well as being highly opaque with few layers. It's also particularly easy PETG to print well, in my experience. A perfect material for any kind of darkroom tool. That said, probably any non-translucent black PLA or PETG will work fine. The parts are fairly thick. Up the infill % and use cubic or octet pattern if you're worried about it. YMMV.