Printing and the Darkroom: Overview
Well, you simply have to have a darkroom if you are going to do any printing, and we’ve got to start somewhere, so a general overview is probably in order.
The Darkroom
Darkrooms vary so much that this will be very general. More details are provided in the darkroom, the enlarger, and printing accessories.
What is essential is a light-tight, ventilated room, or a room that can be made so. Running water is a plus, but not essential, as prints can be washed outside the darkroom. You need enough space for your enlarger and the processing trays. You need a safe light. A large closet can do, there are plenty of darkrooms in bathrooms, and of course a dedicated darkroom will do just fine.
Ideally, keep a ‘wet’ side of the room for processing, and a ‘dry’ side for printing. This means keep wet stuff away from the enlarger, and keep your paper, easel, and other printing stuff away from the chemistry.
Printing
Printing, or making enlargements, is a process involving testing, evaluation, retesting, and then making a final print. The processing is a very similar sequence to film processing: develop, stop, fix, and wash.
Printing takes time. It should not be rushed. The more care you take every step of the way, the better your prints will be, with less effort. Work consistently, and make good darkroom habits instinctual. If you don’t need to think hard about how you are doing something, you can spend more time thinking about why you are doing it.
Evaluation is a critical step. Learn what you are looking at and for, and decide what it is you want to do before going back into the darkroom. Try and be a specific in your evaluation as you can. It helps to know what it is you are trying to accomplish. Looking at photos, be they in books, or better yet in galleries or museums, will best help you see what you are trying to do.
