making_a_black_and_white_print

Making a black and white print What we used: * Darkroom * Enlarger * Masking easel * Photographic paper * Negatives * Developer, stop and fix (mixed with water to specifications) * Processing trays, tongs and squeegee * Measuring cylinders and jugs * Water supply and sink Setting up the enlarger With main lights on, we placed our chosen negative into the negative holder, making sure it was shiny side up and dust free. We set the masking easel to the size of the paper (5� x 7�).

We opened up the aperture of the enlarger lens to its widest setting to allow lots of light through, so that we could focus the image. We turned off the main light, and put the safe light on. We raised and lowered the enlarger head until the image was the size we wanted. We used variable contrast photographic paper (called Multigrade), so we selected a filter and placed it in the filter drawer. We chose grade 2 as a medium contrast filter to start off with. We then stopped the lens down to a medium setting (f.8) so the paper didnĘźt expose too quickly. We turned the enlarger off and placed a piece of photographic paper into the masking easel, without moving the easel out of position. We made a test strip first, to find the correct exposure time, check contrast level and save paper. We selected an exposure time of 25 seconds, exposed the paper then processed the print in three chemicals (paper developer, stop bath and fix) before washing it in running water, removing excess water using a squeegee and drying the pint.

We repeated this process with a range of negatives. We also experimented with dodging and burning if some areas of the negative were under or over exposed.

My thoughts about working in the darkroom...