Chemical Baths: Making the Invisible, Visible

Unlike enlarging exposure times, chemical bathing times are the same for all prints.

Remember 2-1-2-3-1 for how many minutes the print remains in each chemical.

Note: Sliding the print into the chemical (as opposed to plopping it onto the surface) as well as agitating the print in the chemical ensures maximum chemical exposure for all parts of the print.

Exciting note: Once the print goes from the Fixer to the water, it is safe to turn on the lights. Check out your print in the light while it rinses!

You can leave your print in the final water rinse if you need to get a place for it to dry ready. Letting it sit for a little while in the final water bath will not hurt it.

Caution: The longer you leave the print in in contact with Developer the darker it will get. It is important to get the print into the print into the Stop Bath promptly after leaving the Developer.

Fig 3.1 Trays set up in a row ready to bathe some prints. For this instruction set however, there are two more  trays with water in to rinse the finished print.

Bathing Your Print: (Lights OFF)

• Leave your print on the enlarger for a moment, and move from the dry side of your darkroom to the wet side.
• Put on rubber gloves, if you wish.
• Set your process timer to 2 minutes.
• Retrieve your print from the enlarger, being careful to not touch the 'shiny' side.
• Slide the print into the developer 'shiny' side up. Make sure it is completely submerged in chemical.
• Start the timer and watch your image appear on the paper!
•  As you wait, Agitate: Either use your tongs (gently!) to move the print around in the chemical, or raise up one corner of the tray to swish the chemical around the paper.
• When the timer goes off, carefully grab a corner of the print with your tongs set near the developer tray and lift it out of the developer. Allow it to drip back into the same tray for a few seconds.
• Slide the print into the Stop Bath.
• Set the process timer to 1 minute and start it.
• Agitate the same way you did for the Developer.
• When the timer goes off, remove the print from the Stop Bath with the tongs set near the Stop Bath tray. Let it drip for a few seconds.
• Slide the print into the Fixer.
• Set your process timer to 2 minutes and start it.
• Agitate until the timer goes off.
• Use tongs to retrieve the print and let it drip for a few seconds.
•  Slide the print into the water.
• Set the timer for 3 minutes, start it, agitate until the timer goes off.
• Remove the print with tongs, let it drip, and move it to the final bath.
• Set the process timer for 1 minute and agitate.
• When the timer goes off, your print is complete!

There are various ways to dry a completed print. You can use a string and a clothespin like in the movies, or you can use a drying rack or a fancy drying cabinet.

Choose the drying method that is most appropriate for your space/output/budget.

If your print doesn't look like you want, use this troubleshooting guide to help you figure out what to change to make your next print better.