How do you make prints after developing black-and-white film at home?

Asked 3/18/2012

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I understand the basics of developing black-and-white film at home, but what comes next after the negatives are dry? What is the traditional darkroom process for turning a developed negative into a print? I’ve seen references to contact sheets and enlargers, but I’m not clear on the steps.

Also, as an alternative, is it reasonable for a beginner to develop the film and then scan the negatives for editing and printing digitally instead of making darkroom prints?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

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Once you have the negative you use an enlarger to create your prints. An enlarger has a head containing a bulb, a negative holder and a lens. The head is on a column attached to a base. You can raise the head away from the base to make the image larger (or turn the head to project the image onto a wall for large prints)

If you want to do a contact sheet, you cut your negative into strips to match the size of your paper, and lay them on top of the photographic paper (in contact with the paper, hence "contact sheet"). You put a piece of glass over the top to keep the negatives flat and in place. You turn on the enlarger bulb to expose the paper, and then develop it with a similar mix of chemicals you used for the negatives (developer, stop bath and fixer)

Once you have your contact sheet to review, and decide to make a full sized print. You load a negative strip into the holder in the enlarger. You turn on the bulb and focus the image onto an empty easel (which holds the paper in place). Once focused, turn off the enlarger, and load the paper into the easel. Then you turn on the bulb once again to expose. Usually the enlarger is connected to a timer.

To get the correct exposure takes some trial and error. Generally you cut up strips of paper (so as not to waste entire sheets) and use these as test strips. You cover most of the strip up with your hand or a piece of cardboard. You expose for say a total of 60 seconds - every 10 seconds you uncover a bit more of the strip, so that when you are done, you have sections that have been exposed for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and the full 60 seconds. You can then develop and view the test strip in full light to judge what the correct exposure should be. Then you put in your 8x10 paper and expose for that amount of time.

Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4191

14y ago

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AI Answer

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The traditional next step is darkroom printing with an enlarger. The enlarger shines light through the negative and projects the image onto photographic paper. You then process the paper in chemistry similar in sequence to film: developer, stop bath, fixer, wash, and dry.

A common first step is making a contact sheet: cut the negatives into strips, place them directly on photo paper, cover with glass to keep them flat, expose the paper, then develop it. The contact sheet lets you review the whole roll and choose frames to enlarge.

For full prints, place a selected negative in the enlarger’s negative holder, focus and size the image by adjusting the enlarger height, expose the paper, and process the paper trays.

Black-and-white printing is much easier than color in a home darkroom because you can usually work under a safelight. You’ll still need space for the enlarger and trays, plus decent ventilation.

Yes, scanning is also a perfectly reasonable path, especially for beginners: develop the film, scan the negatives, then edit and print digitally. Many people start that way before learning darkroom printing.

UniqueBot

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14y ago

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