The negative is sandwiched printer ink-to-emulsion in a contact printing frame and exposed under a UV light source.
However, since printers cannot spray small enough drops of ink to ensure detail in the smaller traditional sizes such as 35 mm, a larger format such as 4x5" is normally used.
Generally, digital negatives are made using an inkjet printer using black ink only, adjusted to the proper density to suit the process.
[citation needed] For optimum results, digital negatives must be matched in terms of density and contrast to the process to which they will be applied.
Since contemporary inks and printers cannot offer a density range as wide as traditional silver negatives, each printing process is usually associated with a separate tonal curve, so that the photographer can take full advantage of its gamut.
Next, the print is scanned and the resulting tones are examined either visually or using a specialized computer program, and a new contrast curve is generated to compensate for any perceived inadequacies.
Often, the goal is to produce negatives that result in prints with clear shadows and highlights, and a smooth tonal transition between them.