The Darkroom

Photosensitive Paper

• Kept in a safe to protect from white light.• Emulsion– Covered in a gelatin and silver-halide crystals– Crystals trap light• Light hits crystals and clumps them together

Latent Image

• “Image” created on the dry side of the dark room

• The clumping of the crystals is not visible• Stable reaction

Two Sides

Wet Side• Chemicals – 3 trays• Image is developed• Hung on line

Dry Side• Enlargers & Paper• Images are created

• Both sides have safe lights or “red lights”.• Black & White paper is not sensitive to red light.

The Enlarger

• House – This is where the bulb/light is located

• Lens – an opening through which the light comes

• Height – adjusts how close the house is to the easel

• Focus – adjusts the circle of light/image

• Easel – where light/image are projected

Dry Side

Wet Side

The Chemical Process

• Developer: converts exposed silver-halide crystals in to black metallic silver revealing image.

• Stop Bath: weak acid bath that neutralizes the developing action.

• Fixer: removes unexposed crystals making the image light safe.

• Holding Bath: washes the remaining chemicals off the print.

Drying Process

• Excess water is removed with a squeegee and print hung to dry on a clothes line.