The Process of Black and White Print Making
A photograph is a moment in time caught in a single image. It is something to always be cherished, so as not to ever forget that time and place in ones life. It can also be used to capture a beautiful and unique image. Black and white photographs could also be considered an artform. They are a way to show something from a different perspective, or in an artistical form. To actually produce a black and white print is not very complicated if following a simple process, quality prints can be achieved from a good negative. For this example Ilfospeed Multigrade paper and chemicals will be used. Basic knowledge of a darkroom, and the equipment used, will be helpful to follow this process. The steps that are needed to follow include: using the enlarger to expose an image onto the paper, then placing the paper through a series of chemical baths which produce an image onto the paper, and finally washing and drying the print. Each of these procedures are fundamental in achieving the goal of a perfect print. The first and most critical step in making a black and white print is the process involved with using the enlarger. The negative should first be cleaned off of any dust or fingerprints with a soft cloth. Take the negative and place it
Once the process of black and white print making has been learned, that moment in time is even more special now that it has been personally printed. The pride of showing off ones work, after all the printing stages, the enlarger, adjusting the aperture and timing, to developing the print through a series of chemical baths. Finally, finishing it off with the washing and drying process one will be left with a quality print to be proud of; only produced from a single small negative. If a process that seems so complicated, and almost magical, to produce a black and white photograph can in fact be quite simple, then working step by step most other processes or even challenges in life may just be a little easier than one may think. To begin the development, take the paper and place it emulsion side down into the Developer for one minute. To properly expose the print it must be agitated which is done by continually and slowly rocking the tray back and forth very gently. An image will begin to appear, like magic, onto the bottom of the paper. At the end of the minute carefully grab the edge of the paper with the tongs and lift it above the Developer, allowing excess solution to drain off of the print into the tray. Place it now in the Stop Bath and agitate for ten seconds, repeating the draining at the end before placing it into the Fixer. The print should fix for thirty seconds constantly being agitated. Do not fix for any longer because that may damage the prints. Remember in each of the chemical baths that the print must remain emulsion side down. The chemical process is completed at this stage and all that remains is to wash and dry the paper. emulsion side (dull side) down into the negative carrier. Place carrier into enlarger head, then turn off the room lights leaving only the safety lights on now. With the enlarger turned on the negative will be projected onto the easel. Adjust the enlarger by moving it up and down to accommodate the paper size that will be used; the paper size is
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Approximate Word count = 1348
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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