What processes are involved when selecting and cropping images from enlargements of negatives?

Question

What processes are involved when selecting and cropping images from enlargements of negatives?

Answer 1

Contact prints are made  and using a loupe (8x usually) pick out the images that best fulfill the requirement of the assignment. Next using the  labs light table and the negatives can be placed on them and using the same loupe, look at each negative  that was picked and  look for composition and sharpness as well as proper exposure and development.  In photography (film) this is what editing is ... picking out the best images to be printed (or in the case of transparencies, pick the best to be used as an illustration in a magazine article or other printed (with a press) materials).

Usually a white china marker is used to make crop marks on the contact sheet.  Then armed with the negatives and contacts, the photographer can enter the darkroom and print the best of the best images on that roll of film.