Mia/Darkroom

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DARKROOM BASICS (4. – 5. 10. 2018)

1. PREPARATION FOR BW FILM DEVELOPMENT:

• Use orange tool to get the end of your film out of the cassette

• Cut the end to get a slightly round shape along the whole end of the film strip

• insert it in the reel until it's secure on 2 tiny metal pins

• take the development tank with tube in the middle, cap and reel (with film) into the small darkroom (completely lightproof)

• lock the door and start winding the film onto the reel by rotating left and right part of the reel in opposite direction

• when finished, tear the film cassette off

• insert the reel in the bottom of the tank

• close with the cap

• come out

2. DEVELOPING THE BW FILM:

See the chart (which film you have, the ISO etc. – check for the developer and required time), see the container, how much liquid you need (300ml for 35mm & 500 for 120mm)

• PRESTEP: fill tank with water, agitate 1 min, then every 30s for 4 more minutes, empty it

• STEP 1 - DEVELOPING: fill with developer, agitate 1 min, then every 30s altogether for the time required, empty in the container for used developer

• STEP 2 - STOPBATH: fill with water, agitate 1 min, empty

• STEP 3 – FIXER: fill with fixer, agitate 1 min, then every 30 s altogether for 5 min, empty BACK in the fixer

• STEP 4 – FINAL WASH: fill with water, agitate for 1 min, empty, REPEAT for at least 12 times (if you work alone, put the hose in the tank and let the water wash it out for at least 12 min)

• STEP 5 – WATER SOLVENT: take out the reel, dunk it in dilluted soap for 1 min

• STEP 6 – DRYING: take your film out of the reel, hang it in the cabinet (at least 1h)

3. ENLARGING THE NEGATIVES (information applies to RC paper!):

Get the chemicals ready (developer, stopbath, fixer, water - turned on to agitate)

Settings on the enlarger to begin with:

-contrast 2

-aperture (when setting on max.) on 2 stops less than max.

-desired size (with distance)

-focus (use magnifying tool to focus on the grain)

-ground board with movable slats (to define the cutting)

Insert negative in the enlarger upside down and with emulsion side down

Do the test print (depending on your negative density, contrast, exposure etc.)

4. DEVELOPING YOUR PRINTS (information applies to RC paper!):

-developer 1.5 min

-stopbath 1 min

-fixer 5 min

-water 10-15 min

! Note ! clamps with fixer should never get in the developer – do not contaminate the developer with other chemicals -drain the print, dry in the dryer