Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

True or False: It is preferable to over-expose negative film rather than under-expose it.

1. True

2. False

3. Depends on the film type

4. True for all films

The correct answer is: True

Over-exposing negative film is generally considered preferable to under-exposing it due to the way negative film captures light and detail. When negative film is over-exposed, it has the ability to retain more detail in the shadows and highlights, resulting in a richer and more dynamic range of tones. This can often lead to more pleasing and usable negatives since the film can effectively handle the additional light by spreading it across the medium. On the other hand, under-exposing negative film can result in lost details, particularly in the shadow areas, which can lead to a muddy or flat image. Under-exposure can also introduce noise and grain that negatively affect the image quality. While certain types of film may have unique characteristics, the general consensus in photography practice is that over-exposing negative film tends to produce better results compared to under-exposing it.