Darkroom Basics: Black & White Printing

COVID UPDATE:  The Darkroom is open to classes and members only.  Masks are required.  Class sizes are reduced to a maximum of 5 students. The Darkroom is open to classes and members only.  Masks are required.  Class sizes are reduced to a maximum of 5 students.

Description

In three hours, we’ll show you how to take a 35mm black-and-white film negative and print it using an enlarger and traditional chemistry.  You’ll learn how to make test strips, contact prints, enlargement prints and how to properly develop, fix, wash and dry your print.  This is a very basic introduction to the darkroom, covering only the printing phase. For a more detailed workshop covering the full process from capture to print, try our full-day Analog Film Lab.

Who should take this class

Experienced digital shooters and photo novices alike are invited to try their hand at the traditional black and white darkroom process. Even if you're not a photographer and just have a box of old negatives at home, with this Crash Course you can start examining and printing those negs onto real photographic paper.

What to bring

If you have processed black & white negatives at home, bring them with you and we’ll show you how to make prints from them.  You can also bring unprocessed 35mm film to the Darkroom at least 2 days in advance of class and they can process your film for you.  We’ll also provide sample negatives for use in class if you just want to learn the process.

COVID POLICY: Masks are required for this class.  Students will be asked to wear masks while inside the darkroom at all times.

Prerequisites

None!

Materials provided (included in cost of class)

All resin-coated photographic paper

All development chemistry

Max: 5 students