Photographic printing is the process of producing a final image on paper for viewing, using chemically sensitized paper. The paper is exposed to a photographic negative, a positive transparency (or slide), or a digital image file projected using an enlarger or digital exposure unit such as a LightJet printer. Alternatively, the negative or transparency may be placed atop the paper and directly exposed, creating a contact print.

BASIC ENLARGER EXPOSURE

Begin by choosing which image you wish to print, then orient your strip of film, emulsion side down. The emulsion side can usually be discerned as the dull side, while the base side is often shiny.

Handle the negative by touching only the edges of the film. Do not pinch the film between your fingers, as you will get finger grease on your film.

Place your negative into the negative carrier making sure to place the film emulsion side down and upside down. The enlarger will project the image backwards, thus righting your image.

Carefully close the carrier, making sure not to pinch the film with the registration pins.

Using compressed air carefully clean your negative free of dust and dirt. Make sure not to place the nozzle too close to your negative as some canned air will release liquid onto your negative (6 inches should be sufficient distance).

Place your negative carrier into the open enlarger head.

Making sure not to jostle the film in the carrier, push it all the way back until the registration pins are aligned.

Gently close the enlarger head.

Open the aperture all the way to better see your image.

Turn the timer to the focus setting (F).

Raise up the enlarger until the image fills your paper frame.

Using a blank sheet of dummy paper, focus your image until you can see the grain of the film.

Place the appropriate contrast filter in the filter holder. (it makes sense to begin with a mid range number, in most cases this would be a 2.5 filter out of a range of 5)

Reset the aperture by stopping it back down (2 stops should give you a good starting point).

Return the switch to timer

Open your paper tray taking care not to shift its position relative to the enlarger.

Gently place your unexposed sheet of printing paper into the correct groove in the paper tray, emulsion side up.

Set your timer (A general beginning setting might be 30 seconds)

Close the tray leaves and set your margins

Turn the timer on taking care not to bump the table or any of the devices during the exposure.

BASIC CHEMICAL PRINTING

Once your exposure is complete and the timer shuts the lamp off, carefully remove your exposed print without moving the placement of your paper tray.

Carefully transport your print to the chemistry trays, and place your print into the first tray - Developer using dedicated tongs.

Using a timer or a steady count immerse the entire print under the developer taking care not to scratch the emulsion. Agitate the developer by gently lifting and lowering one corner of the tray up and down. This allows the chemicals to move over the print maximizing their reaction with the emulsion.

Remove the print with the tongs making sure to allow excess liquid to drip back into the Developer tray before moving the print to the next step: the Stop Bath. Repeat the same steps allowing 30 seconds for Stop Bath time.

Remove the print from the Stop Bath using the Stop Tongs. Drain before moving to the Fixer Bath.

After completing 4 minutes of submersion without agitation in the fixer solution, remove the print and place in the rinse bath for 10 - 20 minutes.