Views: 5
PRINT PROCESSING
The exposed print is processed on the wet side of the dark room by similar processing and fixing procedures as that of the film. Latent image had been formed wherever light reached the paper during contact printing exposure and since more light passed through the clear parts of the negative than the darker parts, the print will therefore be a positive image.
For print processing, three trays i.e. one for each chemical used is needed and not a developing tank as in the film processing. In addition, this process is done under orange light and not in darkness.
The same type of developer and fixer solutions are used as in print processing, but a however a fast acting developer (a more concentrated developer solution) is now needed. The developer is maintained at 20oc throughout. Each of the three plastics must be large enough to hold the largest print you intend to make. Once the print has been processed, it must again be thoroughly washed to remove the chemicals created during fixing as well as the fixer solution itself. Unwashed print will dry with a chemical scum and may bleach and discolor within a few days. Washing is done using running clean water.
The Enlarger
An enlarger is a projection printer similar to a slide projector but it is mounted vertically and has a much less brilliant lamp. It has a condenser, which consist of a converging lens that concentrates light onto an even focused beam
The film is held below the condenser by its edges in a carrier that has its central area cut out in a rectangular i.e. the size of the negative. When an exposure is made, the lamp above the carrier projects the image down through the enlarging lens so that it appears enlarged on a sheet of light sensitive paper laid on the baseboard.
Image of an Enlarger
The enlarger’s lamp must illuminate the image evenly. The lamp house must prevent light escaping through the ventilation holes as these might fog the paper on the baseboard. The carrier should hold the film flat, otherwise parts of the picture will appear out of focus or distorted. The lamp should also not overheat the film
Several techniques can be used at enlarging stage to improve prints made from negatives. These means that the design of the enlarger should be considered e.g. it should be one with a nice condenser, which should give more diffused light or illumination and not hard illumination.
Placing a diffuser below the lamp and the condenser will effectively lower the contrast and hence improve print. Alternatively, you can reduce contrast by fogging slightly the printing paper i.e. by very briefly exposing it to light.