Darkroom Printing Procedure Summary

• In the white room:
  
  
  1. Choose a frame to print. Use loupe on lightbox. Check for focus and exposure
     
     
  2. Pickup a negative holder (black circular object with window) that matches the enlarger. Large holder for large enlarger. Choose the one that matches your film = make sure the window size matches the size of film (35mm).
     
     
  3. Pickup a tray that matches the size of your print (eg. 8.5x11")
  
  
• Go into the darkroom and set up on enlarger
  
  
  1. Turn on timer.
     • on/off switch is on top right of box.
     • dials control time
     • large button starts timer when "outlet time" button selected
     • "outlet on" or "outlet focus" keeps the enlarger on (so you can focus)
     
     
     
  2. Turn enlarger on and make sure light covers the whole table
     • raise the enlarger head up/down to control the projection size/area
     
     
     
  3. Check the aperture on the lens on enlarger
     • make sure light is bright enough
     • make sure light is white. If colored (green, blue, red..etc), disengage filter
     
     
     
  4. Make contact sheet (do this for every negative sleeve so you have record)
     • Make test strip to get exposure (the time appropriate to make contact sheet)
       • pickup glass, cardboard
       • cut strip of photo paper (approx. 1 inch width) if not in box, leave rest in box for next person.
       • place photo paper, negative sleeve so one row aligns with photo paper, and glass on top to keep flat
       • set the timer (eg. 1 sec or 2 sec) and cover the negative sleeve with cardboard
       • gradually expose the negative (see video) exposing 1/2" ever time
       • develop, stop, fix, and rinse with water
       
       
       
     • Evaluate and choose exposure time so that the sprocket holes are barely visible. (Here, we are not looking at the images). Say you chose X seconds.
       
       
     • Expose whole sheet of paper to make full contact sheet
       • place whole sheet of photopaer, negative sleeve, and glass in this order
       • expose for X seconds (whatever you decided appropriate from test strip)
       • develop, stop, fix, and keep in holding tank (water) until you are ready to wash
     
     
     
  5. Make enlargement from frame you chose from negative
     
     
     • Get an easle (optional), grain focuser, sheet of paper to focus on (focusing paper)
       
       
     • Insert negative into negative holder (black circular)
       
       
     • Insert negative holder into enlarger
       
       
     • Place focus paper on easle
       
       
     • Move the enlarger head to change size of projected image
       
       
     • Turn focus knob on enlarger to focus (use grain focuser to make sure it is focused). I suggest you use the largest aperture (brightest) when focusing. (Do not print with the largest aperture to avoid corners being out of focus)
       
       
     • once focused make test strip for frame
       
       
       • dial back aperture few stops so that it is not at the largest/brightest (increase area in focus)
       • place strip of photopaper and expose in strips of 1/2" using cardboard using 1 or 2 second increments
       • develop, stop, fix, and rinse test strip
       • evaluate test strip and get correct exposure time (note: this time is most likely NOT the same as the time you used for the contact sheet!!!)
       
       
       
     • Using the exposure time obtained from test strip, exposuse full paper to make full print
       • keep notes on back of print (f-stop, exposure time)
       • after develop, stop, fix, keep in holding tray (water)
     
     
     
  6. After making multiple prints and when done for the day
     • wash the prints in batch in hypo clear
     • wash the prints in the archival washer
     • squeegee the prints and place prints on drying rack