How to Make a Print in Photography

Mix the dektol developer, stop bath and fixer according to the package directions and pour each into a separate brown chemical bottle. Label the contents of the bottles. Let the chemicals set and cool off.

Check the temperature of the chemicals; they should be at 68 degrees for best results. If they are more than 2 degrees above or below 68, set them in a water bath until they have reached the correct temperature.

Pour 1 cup of dektol paper developer and two cups water into one of the trays to form a working solution. The water should also be 68 degrees. This solution will bring out the image.

Pour 3 cups of stop bath into a second tray. The stop bath will stop the action of the developer.

Pour 3 cups of fixer into a third tray.

Place several cups of water into the final tray. Place the tray under a faucet.

Place a negative into the negative carrier on the enlarger. The glossy side of the negative should be up and the top of the negative should be closest to you so the image will be right side up when light shines through it.

Turn the enlarger on and focus the image on the easel where the photo paper will be placed. Then decrease the amount of light coming through the negative by three or four stops of the lens. This will increase the contrast of the image.

Turn off the enlarger light when the negative is in focus. The safe light may remain on.

Cut several strips of photo paper and place them one at a time on the easel preferably on an area that will have white, black and gray. Set the timer for different amounts of time so you can determine the best printing time.

Place the strips one at a time into the developer, then gently agitate the tray. The images should slowly appear in approximately two minutes. The image should have whites that are white, blacks that are black and distinctive grays.

Discard the strips when you have decided on a printing time.

Place a sheet of photo paper of the desired size on the easel with the emulsion side, or glossy side, up and fasten it into place.

Set the timer for the appropriate time and turn the enlarger light on. When the enlarger light goes off and the safe light returns, place the paper face down in the dektol to make sure it is totally coated with developer, then turn it over so you can watch the image appear as you agitate the tray gently.

When the image has totally appeared, place the paper in the stop bath. Be sure to totally submerge it, then agitate for 30 seconds.

Place the paper in the fixer to "fix" the image and leave it for 10 minutes. Agitate it for 10 seconds every minute. At the end of 10 minutes, the paper will no longer be light sensitive.

Place the finished photo in the tray with water in it. Turn the water on so it runs slowly for 30 minutes to totally rinse the photo.

Hang it up or lay the finished photo out to dry. Trim off any extra white trim.

Pour the dektol solution into another bottle and label it stock solution. Pour the other chemicals back into their containers and rinse the trays before putting them away.