How to Develop a Photograph

Set up your darkroom. Test the enlarger by placing a negative into the negative carrier and sliding it into the enlarger, then turning it on. The light should come on, displaying the image on the enlarger. Set up the water bath with water that is warmer than the chemical developer manufacturer's recommendation and monitor the temperature with thermometer. Place three of the baking trays in the bath and place the fourth under a supply of running water. Mix the developer, stop bath and fixer according to the manufacturer's directions and place in the trays. Label each tray with the contents to avoid confusion. Allow the chemicals in the trays to reach the manufacturer's recommended temperature before proceeding.

Place the negative in the negative carrier, emulsion side down. The emulsion side will be the dull side of the film strip coated with the film emulsion; the shiny side is the film base side. Insert the carrier into the enlarger. Turn on the light and adjust the aperture of the enlarger lens until the desired brightness is achieved. Adjust the enlarger so that the photograph is the desired size and focus, then turn off the light.

Turn off all lights except the safe light, remove one sheet of photographic paper from the box, then re-seal the box. Cut this paper into strips, placing one strip on the base of the enlarger. Using the cardboard, cover all but a small portion of the strip. Set the exposure on the enlarger for a small amount of time and expose the strip. Move the cardboard along the strip, increase the exposure time and expose again. This creates a test strip with a number of exposure times on it.

Develop the test strip. Place the strip in the developer and agitate for the recommended time, which will vary depending on the type of paper used. Fiber based papers require a longer developing time than resin coated papers. When the desired development has been reached, place the strip into the stop bath for 30 seconds, then place the strip into the fixer for the recommended amount of time. Finally, place the strip into the water bath of running water to rinse.

Make sure all light-sensitive materials are secure and examine the test strip in full light. Choose the best exposure time from the test strip and set the enlarger timer for that time. If variable contrast paper is being used, select a contrast filter and place it in the holder.

Turn off all lights except the safe light and place another piece of photographic paper into the enlarger base, making sure to align and center the sheet. Expose the photograph by switching on the enlarger for the desired time.

Place the photograph in the developer. Time will vary depending on the desired contrast and the type of paper used.

Move the photograph to the stop bath for 30 seconds to two minutes.

Place the image in the fixer for two to 10 minutes, depending on the variety of paper used. The photograph is now safe to be exposed to light.

Set the image in the water bath for the recommended time. Fiber based papers will require more time than resin coated papers. After the wash is finished, the developing is complete.

Hang the photograph in a drying cabinet or in a dust and draft free area until dry. Resin coated paper types will dry more quickly; fiber-based papers may take several hours or days, depending upon the thickness. If using a fiber based paper, it is normal for the paper to curl; it must also be pressed afterward to flatten. This may be done using a mounting press set on a low heat or by placing the completely dry photograph under a flat, heavy object for a few days.