Here are some things to remember:
Make sure the lens that is installed in the enlarger is the correct one for the film you are using: 35mm film needs a 50mm lens, 120 film (6×6 medium format) needs an 80mm or 75mm lens.
The aperture of the enlarging lens is not a basic tool for changing exposure. When possible, use the timer and leave the aperture set at the third stop from maximum aperture.When doing a test strip, have a filter in the path of the light. Depending on your paper choice use Filter 2 or 3. Ilford paper unfiltered corresponds to Filter 2.
Paper info for Chemical Processing:
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/20114271321242292.pdf
Paper info for Contrast Control:
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2010628932591755.pdf
The exposure time for filters 00–31/2 is the same; that for filters
4–5 is double.
Pay attention to the development time. Use the full time each time…agitate with tongs constantly.
Developer:
Mix 1:9 20-24C keep tmeprature constant
RC paper 1 minute continuous agitaiton
Fiber based paper 2 min
Stop Bath dil:tba
10seconds RC
30 seconds Fiber
Ilford Rapid Fixer dil 1:4
2minutes RC
4 minutes Fiber
(the print can be brought out into the light for evaluation and consultation after about 1.5 minutes in fixer.)
Washing…For Fiber Paper be sure to use hypo clear. Do not let prints sit in the water. You must move them bottom to top, bottom to top.
Print full frame, no cropping…
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING A CONTACT SHEET
1. Remove the easel and put the glass in its place.
2. Raise the enlarger to height where the square of light just surrounds the glass (about 20” enlarger height)
3. Set the f / stop to the third f stop from the brightest light
4. Set the timer to 5 seconds. Make test strips to find the proper time . Place paper on the enlarger base emulsion side up. Place film strips on top of the paper emulsion side down. Cover with the glass. Make a series of 5 second exposures down the whole length of the paper by uncovering a portion an exposure at a time. Bring out into the light where we will check for proper exposure time.
5. Place fresh sheet of photo paper emulsion side up on the baseboard
6. Place negatives on top of the photo paper (emulsion down), lay the glass down on top
7. After setting the timer correctly, press the button on the timer so the enlarger exposes the paper
8. Remove the photo paper from under the glass and take it to the sink for processing.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING A PRINT
1. Make sure easel is in place.
2. After studying your contact sheet carefully, place your chosen negative in the negative carrier with the shiny side up and the image upside down to you. (the numbers will be at the back of the negative carrier)
3. Inspect and clean your negative if necessary. (take it outside to the light…use dust brush and air compressor to clean)
4. Put the negative carrier securely in the enlarger.
5. Make sure the f/stop is wide open (go to the smallest number, brightest light).
6. Raise or lower the enlarge to set the amount of enlargement so that you are printing the whole image, no cropping.
7. Turn the light on using the flip switch on the timer. Use the white light setting.
8. With the easel in place, focus and compose. (As you focus, reset the easel position to make sure that the easel crops into all edges of the picture.)
9. Turn off the light on the timer and change to the filtered light.
10. Set the aperture to the 3rd f stop from wide open (usually f8 or f11).
11. Make a split time test strip using increments of 5 seconds, 4-5 times, so that you have 5 to 35 seconds represented on your test strip. Note: This can be any increment you want. If your negative is light, try 3, 6, and 9 sec. Or, 30 use seconds increments if the negatives are extra dark (very white on your contact sheet). These are just examples.
12. Process the test strip in the chemicals face down.
a. Place the print in the developer so that the print gets wet evenly. Agitate constantly.
b. Leave the print in for the entire time so the highlight areas will develop
properly.
13. When the test strip has been in the fixer at least 30 seconds, you may study it in white light – The right exposure time is found by looking at the white. When you see detail in the light tones, the exposure is right. The filter you choose will control the blacks; the higher the number filter, the stronger the blacks will be. Work with me to get a sense of how this can be controlled. Start with a number 3 filter.
14. Expose a full sheet of paper using appropriate time, being careful to place the paper up against all of the black tabs.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Prints must be washed to get the chemicals out of them. The water tray in the darkroom is not a wash tray as new chemicals are constantly being added with new prints moving out of the fixer. For Fiber prints: Hypo Clearing Agent 5 minutes with constant agitation.
Washing in tray with holes, 15 minutes with intermittent agitation. For RC: Final wash in tray with holes-5 minutes,Squeegee excess water off, back first, front last. Lay, face up on drying racks.