There are many different stages to the developing process into turning them into photographs. So it is important for you to be entirely sure of what you need to do the best way is to try it with a few test rolls first before attempting prints you want to keep. It is easier to start with black and white films before moving onto developing colour photographs so below are some instructions to follow in the process of developing black and white negatives in to the actual photographs.
How it's done .You firstly need to ensure you have the correct equipment before starting the process this includes your base board, enlarger head, print paper, sheet of glass, developer tray, stop tray, fixer tray, wash tray and drying cabinet. Once you are sure you have all the correct equipment you can proceed with the following process:
Contact print- You start by creating your contact print you do this by setting the lens into the enlarger head, rotating the lens setting to f8 (and turn on the enlarger light). Focus the light so it covers the base board with even light this adjuster should be situated near the lens holder.
- Once the light is set correctly turn it off. Then place the print paper shiny side up on to the base board, place the negatives you want to print onto the print paper rough side facing up on the print paper, this is where you use the glass to hold them in place.
- Then set the timer on your enlarger for around 10 seconds, once the paper has been exposed to the enlarger light take the paper from under the glass and place it in the development tray with the right developing fluid. It will stay in the tray for no longer than 2 minute's it will depend on the type of paper used as to how long it will take exactly.
- You then remove the print paper from the tray using the tweezers as the chemical can be harmful to the skin.
- When all the developing fluid has dripped off (if you wait for all the fluid to drain off each time you change trays it will help the different fluids last longer) the paper you can place it in the stop tray.
- You will leave it in the stop tray for no longer than 25 seconds this time once again depends on the kind of paper you use.
- Then remove it from the stop tray once again using tweezers and put it into the fixer tray the time it is left in there depends on the kind of paper as well resin paper takes 1-2 minutes where the fibre paper can take anywhere up to 10 minutes.
- Then remove from the fixer and place in the wash tray, with resin paper you leave it in a time between 2 - 5 minutes but with fibre paper you may have to leave up to 60 minutes.
- You will then take it out of the wash tray and put on the drying cabinet.
Processing your own films gives the photos a more personal touch and often gives you a sense of satisfaction when you have developed a print that is of very high quality. If you get the technique correct it is often possible for you to process films to what looks like a professional standard.
That is the whole process explained simply if you need any more information there are plenty of photograph shops around the country and plenty of photo sites online to help you with such queries.