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Key to what follows

Scope of this presentation:

To provide basic knowledge and procedures to decently develop a bw film, print on chemical paper, develop the paper to obtain a bw photograph.

Darkroom lounge:

This is where you are at the moment, in this practical session we will go through the main steps to learn in practice the most commonly used methods and approach the tools available in Estec darkroom

We will not:

Describe/discuss theoretical aspects

Treat advanced development and print methods

We will:

Mention useful publications where those aspects are introduced and detailed

Collect your feedback to assess the opportunity to continue with deeper theoretical/practical sessions in the future

Film development

Once a film is exposed by taking your photo with your analog camera, it needs development

BASIC RULES:

The film MUST be handled in total darkness

The development process can take place in any dark enclosure, i.e. your studio or your bathroom at home

Needed tools:

Development tank (see pic.1)

Thermometer

Needed chemicals:

Essentially three chemical solutions

BRING AN EXPOSED BW FILM WITH YOU AT THE DARKROOM LOUNGE

Plastic development tank

Components:Spiral – where you insert the film (in darkness)Holding support – to keep the spiral in the tankFirst cover – light tightSecond cover – water tightMixer – stick to move the spiral and ease action of chemicals

What to do to develop a film

Steps:

1. Insert the film in the spiral – you need some practice, see darkroom lounge session. Insert the spiral in the tank, cap the tank with the first cover

2. Pour the film developer liquid in the tank –

for a 35 mm film, this is the size and name of the one you use in your SLR (single lens reflex) camera, you need 300 ml of developer

Keep the film in the tank for 10 min, agitate once per minute – see darkroom lounge

3. Dispose the developer in the dedicated container, pour the stop bath in the tank –

Keep the film in the stop bath for 1 minute, agitate continuously

Agitate: turn the tank, with second cap tightly closed, upside down gently, stay in that position for an instant, turn it back, wait for an instant. Repeat four times.

What to do to develop a film

Steps:

4. Dispose the stop bath in the basin (no pollution), pour the fixer in the tank –

Keep the film in the fixer for 5 minutes, agitate every 30 seconds

5. Dispose the fixer in the dedicated container, open the tank, rinse with water for 10 minutes

6. Pour one small drop of hand dish wash soap in water filled tank, agitate and rinse with flowing water

7. Take the film out of the spiral, hang it to dry for 30 min minimum

8. done

Hang the film: clip the film on one side to hang it, clip it on the other side with a weight to keep it straight during the drying

What to do to obtain a photograph from a developed filmEssentially we need to go through two phases:1. PRINT: enlargement of a film negative on a sheet of chemically

sensitive paper2. DEVELOP: the printed sheet of paper must go through a process very

similar to what seen for film development

GROUND RULES FOR PAPER PRINT AND DEVELOPMENTBoth steps can be done in darkroom under red-orange lightA number of tools and equipment are needed, it is not advisable to

perform this process at home unless specific set up is availableIt is necessary to go trough this process applying a repeatable and

accurate procedure to avoid mistakes that could compromise the final result

The Estec darkroom is perfectly suited to perform fine art printing and development

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Red-orange light: that is the only light allowed when photographic paper is out of its storage box, do not forget to always check that papers are box stored before switching on normal room light, to avoid risk to waste unexposed paper

What to do to print paper

Essential tools

Enlarger – to project the negative light on the paper below

It is composed by several parts, among them those you need to use are:

Lens diaphragm – as per your SLR, it is used to dose the light through the lens

Focus scale – the enlarger head goes up and down to focus on the projection plane

Grade filters- they are used to set the contrast of the final image. We will use the filter contrast #2. It is essential that a filter is placed in the enlarger to guarantee a decent final image

Frame – to hold and align the paper

Timer – to command the enlarger light to the desired exposure time

They will be introduced during the darkroom lounge

enlarger

Figures: main parts of an enlarger

What to do to print paper

Essential steps:

1. Place the negative in the holder in the enlarger,

align it using the enlarger alignment tools, see darkroom lounge

Insert a grade 2 filter in the enlarger

Set the lens diaphragm to f 5.6

focus the negative image on the projection plane of the enlarger, using the focus tool according to the chosen paper dimensions

What to do to print paper

Essential steps:

2. Make a test print

What is a test print: it is a sheet of paper where a number of different exposure times are printed in order to be able to visualise the optimum final exp time

How to make it:

a. Expose the paper at 6 different times by gradually covering each of the six paper areas and exposing as follows: 32 sec, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1 sec

b. Each exposure time will differ from the adjacent by one stop

You will obtain a nice sample to develop and useful to decide about the final print parameters to use

DON’T WORRY, IT WILL BE MUCH EASIER AND INTUITIVE AT THE DARKROOM LOUNGE!

WHAT TO DO TO DEVELOP THE PAPER

Yiu have now your test paper, here below the essential steps to deveop it:

1. Develop bath: 2 minutes

2. Stop bath: 1 minute

3. fix bath: 2 minutes

4. water rinsing: 5-10 minutes, better with flowing water

5. dry paper: either in heated roller drier (watch out! Only works for RC paper) or at ambient temperature hanging on a clip

Notes:RC paper is plastic based, FB paper is natural fiber based and much more complicated to use. We will not use it.As done with the film development, all the baths will be ready and you do not need to worry about their preparation. See appendix for detail info on baths.

Developing paper

Paper treatment: the three development steps, clipping the paper, hanging it to dryAlways use different clips for each bath, always use the same clip for each bath

Whats nextNow you have gone through the main steps.

You might have perceived there is more behind the basic technique we managed to show you, it is on you to continue and refine your capabilities through experience and experimentation.

We are available to assist you further as far as our own knowledge allows, do not hesitate to pose questions.

We would appreciate your feedback on this session to improve it and correct if necessary.

Thanks for your participation.

Volker KohneAntonio PredenFabio Caramelli

Appendix a: hints on further steps

Film development:

Try films with different sensitivity (ISO), explore the relation between film ISO and grain size.

Sample films: Ilfod HP5, Rollei retro, Kodak Tmax (400 ISO). Ilford Delta 3200 (3200 ISO)

Paper print and development:

Assess the influence of enlarger diaphragm selection on print time

Exercise to think in terms of F-stop when assessing paper exposure time

Try print improvements by dodging and burning, where needed

Experiment paper toning with dedicated baths

Try larger paper size, experiment the impact on technique and image effects

Try RC pearl paper (as opposite to the glossy paper we will use in the darkroom lounge)

Appendix b: film baths

Film development:

Developer: Kodak ‘D76’. it comes in powder, dilute in water following instructions to make the ‘bulk solution’. Use it at bulk dilution ONE TIME ONLY, then dispose.

Stop bath: Ilford ‘Ilfostop’ stop bath. Use up to three months, store in a plastic dark bottle minimising the air contents in the bottle.

Fixer: Ilford ‘rapid fixer’. Use up to three months, store in a plastic dark bottle minimising the air contents in the bottle

Film and paper wash: Ilford ‘washaid. Used to facilitate cleaning of fixer and to shorten paper water rinsing time. No max. lifetime recommendation.

Appendix C: paper baths

Development: Ilford ‘multigrade’ deveoper. Use up to three months, depending on the number of sheets developed, find out the optimum through experiment.

Stop bath: see previous slide, same bath used for film and paper, change concentration to 1+10

Fixer: see previous slide, same bath used for film and paper, change concentration

according to recommendation on instructions leaflet

Notes:These baths can be used up to three months if stored in dark airtight bottlesFor all baths, detailed dilution recommendations are given in leaflets

Appendix D: EPC dark room rules

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To be completed