Photographic Equipment and Print Process

The Darkroom Equipment

When making black and white prints a safelight is normally used to illuminate the work area, making it easier to see. This is because of black and white paper is sensitive to only blue or blue and green light, a red or amber coloured light can’t be safely used without exposing the paper to a white light.

Another main use of a darkroom is to load film in and out of the old cameras and develop the film holders or spools, this required complete darkness in the dark room. Lacking a dark room as a photographer would make the job extremely hard work as you, because you’ll have to open and develop your film in a small bag with sleeved arm holes specially designed to completely light proof and used to prepare film prior to exposure or developing.

In most darkrooms there is an enlarger, an optical apparatus equivalent to a slide projector. This projects the image of negative onto a base, finely controls the focus, intensity and duration of light this is mainly used for printmaking. The sheet of photographic paper is exposed to the enlarged image from the negative.

In the dark room the equipment you’ll need:

·         A negative to print

·        

100% Cotton cosmetic pad

·         Rubbing Alcohol

·         A light tight room (Must be well ventilated) (Bathrooms with towels shoved under the door can work well)

·         Running water

·         Safe light

·         4 Trays for chemicals

·         Enlarger with a condenser head (and bulb)

·         Paper easel (holds the paper in place under the enlarger)

·         Timer

·         Squeegee (Technically optional, but highly recommended)

·         Drying rack/clothes line and pins

·         Grain enlarger (optional)

·         Emulsion paper - doesn't matter much what you use. I prefer fibre paper.

·         Gloves and apron are optional.

·         Chemical storage bottles

Chemicals needed;

·         Developer - I use Kodak Dektol

·         Stop bath - I use Kodak Indicator stop bath

·         Fixer - I use Kodak Fixer

·         Hypo clear - I use Kodak Hypo Clearing Agent

Print Processing Terms

·         Agitation

To move a solution over the surface of film or paper during processing to insure fresh chemistry comes into contact with the surface. Agitation should take place during each step of the printing process by gently rocking the tray.

·         Fixer

Chemical solution (sodium thiosulfate or ammonium thiosulfate) that makes a photographic image insensitive to light. Fixer, also called Hypo, dissolves unexposed silver halide crystals while leaving the developed silver image.

·         Stop Bath

Chemical solution that stops the development of the print.

·         Water Rinse

Preliminary rinse to minimize residual fixer from contaminating archival rinse.

·         Developer

Chemical solution that converts the latent image (still invisible) in exposed film to a visible image.