JESSICA PRICE

Dark room printing was invented in the early 19th century and the prints are created within a pitch-black room (the dark room) using only small red lights, known as 'safety lights'. Safety lights are used to illuminate the dark room very slightly, without exposing the photograph paper. However, if any other form of light enters the dark room, the photo paper will become exposed and then it will be impossible to print upon. The dark room allows light sensitive materials like photo paper and photographic film to develop into a print. Dark room printing is quite a difficult method of printing, as it requires patience and precision when getting just the correct amount of light and darkness. Dark room prints are now highly unpopular due to the rise in most recent technology, but are still a great way to experiment with photographs and are good to use when creating abstract pieces.

 

When creating a dark room print, I began by placing the photographic paper test strip below an enlarger. I then covered 2/3 of the test strip and set the enlarger to 3 seconds and then covered 1/3 of the test strip and once again set the enlarger to 3 seconds before leaving the test strip uncovered and setting the enlarger to another 3 seconds. This was done in order for me to determine whether my print needed 3, 6 or 9 seconds to develop. I then began the 3 part chemical process used to develop the image. Firstly, i placed the test strip into the developer and left it to soak for 2 minutes, as this time allows the print to develop fully. I then removed the test strip and placed it into the stop bath, of which stops chemical reactions from taking place. I then finally soaked the print in the fixer to fix the print before rinsing the print with water to clear it of any remaining chemicals. I then took the test strip into the light to see which amount of time was the best for my strip (3, 6 or 9 seconds).  After completing this test process, I repeated the process using a full size photograph rather than a test strip.