How to Develop a Black-and-White Print

After you make your contact print, the next step in printing a black-and-white photograph is to develop the print.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drying Cabinets
• Tongs
• Stop Bath
• Developers
• Exposed Photographic Print Papers
• Fixer
• Developer Trays
• Washes

1. Place the exposed print paper in the developer tray. (The time varies by paper type. Resin-coated paper stays in the developer 1 minute, while fiber-based paper stays in for 2 or more minutes.)

2. 

   Take the paper out of the developer with tongs.

3. Let all excess liquid drain off of the paper before placing it in the stop bath tray.

4. 

   Place in the stop bath tray, leaving resin-coated paper in the stop bath for 15 seconds and fiber-based paper for 30 seconds.

5. Take the paper out of the stop bath and place in fixer for 1 to 2 minutes for resin-coated paper and 2 to 10 minutes for fiber-based paper.

6. 

   Remove from the fixer and place in wash for 2 to 5 minutes when using resin-coated paper and 30 to 60 minutes when using fiber-based paper.

7. 

   Take out of the wash and place on the drying cabinet.

Tips & Warnings

• Use resin-coated paper for work prints and contact sheets.
• Drain excess chemicals from the print before transferring to the next tray to make the chemicals last longer.
• Avoid touching chemicals. Use tongs to take prints out of trays.