How to Make a Black-and-White Print

After making the contact print, developing the print, and making a test strip, you're ready to print your black-and-white photograph.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Camera Filters
• Dodging And Burning Tools
• Masking Easels
• Enlargers
• Photographic Print Papers
• Enlarger Timers

1. Switch on the enlarger light.
2. Place a masking easel - a flat metal plate with sliding arms on all four sides for cropping the image manually - on the baseboard.
3. Place a used piece of photographic print paper white-side-up on the easel.
4. Switch on the enlarger light.
5. Scale and focus the image.
6. Create a border around the image by sliding the easel arms up to the edge of the image so it just overlaps.
7. Switch off the enlarger light.
8. Place a sheet of unused print paper emulsion-side-up on the easel.
9. Close the top of the easel so that the arms are centered on the page.
10. Select a filter if using variable contrast paper. Filters are usually placed inside a slot in the enlarger head and come in five grades, 1 being low-contrast and 5 being high-contrast.
11. Place the filter in the filter holder and close securely.
12. Set the aperture and timer using the test strip as a guide.
13. Switch on the timer.
14. Expose the print paper.
15. Place it in the developer tray and proceed with processing.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a focusing aid to get the sharpest print.
• Use burning and dodging tools to selectively expose parts of the print for a longer or shorter amount of time.