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How to Invert a Negative to Positive Print

Film negatives are no longer used as commonly due to the popularity of digital photography. However, there is something nostalgic about developing photos from the negative. Many camera users still own cameras that require negatives for printing and cannot go directly to a computer. In these cases, you may want to convert or develop the images from negative to a positive print on your own to save on the costs of having the images developed by professionals.

Things You'll Need

Dark room
Safelight
Apron
Gloves
Safety glasses
Chemical tray
Develop chemicals
Fixer chemicals
Bath chemicals
Easel
Enlarger
Photo paper
Tongs
Stop bath
Print washer
Clothes line
Clothespins

Instructions

- 1
  Put on your gloves, apron and safety glasses for protection. Prepare the developer, as well as the bath and fixer chemicals. Follow the instructions on the label to prepare the chemicals. Pour each into separate chemical trays. Fill a fourth tray with water.
- 2
  Place the trays in a dark room. Turn on the safelight in the dark room. This light, specifically designed for usage in the darkroom, is usually red or amber.
- 3
  Place the negative on the easel. Turn on the enlarger lamp. Focus the lamp onto the easel below so the light shines through the negative. Turn off the lamp on the enlarger.
- 4
  Position a photo paper sheet that is unexposed on the easel. Turn on the enlarger lamp briefly to expose the negative. Exposure time will vary depending on the size of the enlargement and the density of the negative as well as the enlarger lamp.
- 5
  Place the exposed sheet into the tray filled with developer chemicals. Agitate the tray gently for the amount of time specified on the developer label. A latent image appears on the paper during development.
- 6
  Remove the paper from the chemical tray with the use of tongs. Grab the sheet by the corner with the tongs and hold it over the tray for a few moments until the developer left on the sheet drips into the tray.
- 7
  Repeat the procedures in Steps 5 and 6 with the bath and fixer trays. Proceed with the bath first, then with the fixer tray.
- 8
  Place the sheet in a tray filled with water. If you are developing multiple prints, leave the trays in the water in the mean time. Move the prints to the print washer. Rinse for 5 minutes if you are using resin-coated paper. Rinse for 25 to 30 minutes if you are using fiber-based paper.
- 9
  Remove the prints from the print washer, and hang them on a clothes line by the corners. Use a clothespin to secure the pins on the clothesline.

Photography