A dense negative is effectively a thicker negative which requires more exposure to enlarge, usually resulting in increased apparent grain. Overexposed or overdeveloped negatives have excessive density, whereas underexposed or underdeveloped negatives lack density. Density often affects contrast.

What do dense negatives look like?

A thick, or dense, negative appears dark, whereas a thin negative appears transparent. If a negative appears to be very dark overall with limited see-through areas, it has a high density and is an indication of overexposure. … Dense regions produce highlights whilst transparent regions produce shadows.

What does it mean to have a thin negative?

A negative that is underexposed and normally developed has little or no detail in the shadow areas that are important to the subject. It is described as “thin”. The highlight areas will be rich , transparent and full of detail but they will render as depressed muddy greys instead of bright highlights.