Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Set up your space. Arranging your darkroom is a matter of personal preference, but placing your trays next to the source of running water is a good idea. Arrange the trays on the flat surface and label them. Install your safe light and be sure that any light leaks in the room are sealed with a lightproof substance, such as masking tape. Test your enlarger to make sure the bulb works and make sure all surfaces are dust free.
Prepare the developer, stop bath and fixer according to the manufacturer's directions. Black and white photography development is generally a room temperature process, so a temperature of about 68 degrees F is common. Pour the chemicals into the trays and test with the chemical thermometer until the correct temperature, according to the manufacturer's directions, is reached. Set up the water bath near or in the sink and make sure it has a supply of flowing water
Set the negative into the negative carrier, emulsion side down. There are many different designs, but most will snap open and have pegs for aligning the sprocket holes on the film. Close the negative carrier, placing it into the enlarger. Insert the contrast filter of your choice into the enlarger. The lower the number of the filter, the softer it will make the contrast.
Test the projection area and set the focus on the enlarger. This can be done by various means, but doing it by eye is the fastest. Open the f-stop on the enlarger to the widest, most open setting and turn the light on to project the image onto the easel. While observing the image, turn the focus knob on the enlarger until the desired focus is reached. Turn off your enlarger light.
Turn off all white lights and make sure there are no light leaks in your room. The only light on now should be your safe light. It is now safe to open your photographic paper. Remove the sheet of paper from the lightproof bag and place on the easel in the enlarger. Close the paper container and place in a lightproof area.
Make a test strip. This will help you determine your optimal exposure time. Set the aperture on the enlarger to the smallest setting and set the exposure timer to 30 seconds. Cover all but the last inch of paper with the sheet of cardboard and start the exposure. Every 5 seconds, slide the cardboard so another inch is exposed until the 30 seconds is up. This is your test strip.
Develop your test. Place into the developer and agitate gently for the manufacturer's recommended time or until the desired contrast is reached. Rinse in the water bath. Place into the stop bath for 30 seconds, then rinse in the water bath. Place the strip into the fixer for 2 minutes, then into the water bath for 10 minutes. Your test strip is now developed and may be exposed to normal light. Examine the various exposures and determine which one suits the artistic needs of your photo, then set the enlarger timer to the desired amount of time.
Make sure all normal light is extinguished, then set another piece of photo paper into the enlarger easel and expose for the amount of time indicated on your test strip. Develop as above. You have now created a photographic print.