University of the Ozarks
ART 2003
Photography
Using the Enlarger
Making Prints
| Contact sheets | |
| Making Prints: What you need | Making prints: procedures |
| Burning and Dodging | |
1. Bring enlarger housing to the top of the post so that it shows a wide circle of light (similar to Photograms).
2. Set the aperture to f8 or f11.
3. Place photo paper on the base with the shiny side up (emulsion).
4. Position strips of negatives or a negative sheet onto the paper (emulsion side of film down).
5. Place a heavy glass sheet on top of the negatives and paper; the pressure should be flat and tight.
6. Set timer for determined time, it will depend on how thick your negatives are. Suggestion to start off with: f8 for 5 seconds.
7. Process photo paper as usual.
8. Modify time and aperture as needed.
What you need: negatives, photography paper (RC paper), pen/pencil to take notes, brush or air blower, and directions
RC paper – resin-coated paper is coated on both sides of the paper base with a thin layer of clear plastic, this type of paper exposes quickly, uses less time to process, wash and dry, curls less than fiber papers, a good beginner paper
1. Put a strip of negatives in the negative carrier (emulsion or dull side down). The negative carrier we will use is rectangular in shape.
2. Use the brush or blower to remove dust on both sides of the negative.
3. Close carrier and place into the enlarger. You may want to check for dust again before placing into the enlarger.
4. Place the easel onto the base.
5. Turn on red lights and turn off lights.
6. Turn on the enlarger (focus), open the aperture to the widest f-stop in order to project enough light to see the image clearly.
7. Move the enlarger housing up or down until the image fits into the easel size you selected.
8. Focus the image. Place a sheet of already exposed printing paper (same thickness) in the easel and use a grain magnifier for fine focusing.
9. Remove the paper from the easel.
10. Make a test strip to gage the proper time for exposure. Cut a sheet of photo paper into 3 – 5 strips. Set the aperture at f8 or f11 to start off with.
11. Lay one strip of photo paper (shiny side up) into the easel.
12. Use an opaque piece of cardboard to cover 80% of the paper.
13. There two ways to expose:
Set the timer of 3 or 5 seconds, expose, move the cardboard to cover 60% of the paper, set timer for 3 or 5 seconds, expose, repeat for up to 15 – 30 seconds.
OR
Set the timer for 15 – 30 seconds, expose, move the cardboard every 3 or 5 seconds until timer goes off.
14. Process as usual.
15. After the photo paper has been in the fixer for at least 30 seconds, you may turn on the overhead lights. You still need to fix the paper for 2 minutes.
16. Pick the best time (shows black, white and many gray values). This test strip will give you a starting point for the proper time and aperture to shoot a full size photograph.
You may have to make some modifications on your print if areas are too light or dark.
Burning is used to darken areas. Expose the print for the proper time. Without moving the easel, place an opaque piece of cardboard (with a hole in it) in between the easel and enlarger. Turn on the enlarger for a determined amount of time (40% - 50% of original time suggested, although you may want to burn for the same amount of time). Move the cardboard around so that the projected light falls on the area to be darkened. Move at a quick speed, do not linger.
Dodging is used to lighten areas. While exposing your print, use an opaque piece of cardboard (various shapes) on a wire to block out light over the area to be lightened. Move constantly to prevent the wire or shape to be seen on the print. You may want to dodge for 20% of the time. It will vary based on your needs. You will probably want a longer exposure time to allow you enough time to dodge.