THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE

The easiest way to identify the
emulsion side of a negative is to
set it on a flat surface, with its
edges touching the surface. The
film should look like a tunnel.
The underside (or ceiling) of the
tunnel is the emulsion.
The reason this works is that
the emulsion tends to contract (or
shrink) as it dries. This is because
it absorbs (and later evaporates)
more liquid than the plastic
backing.
You can also tell the emulsion
side of film by looking at it in
fairly bright light. The emulsion
side is the dull side (the plastic
backing is shiny). In addition, if
you carefully examine it, you
should be able to see layers in the
emulsion side (the backing is
smooth).
2. Be sure the negative is free of
dust.
This is the hard part, but it is
essential. For best results, use an
anti-static brush before and after
placing the negative in the holder.
Hold the negative up against a
light and check for any remaining
dust spots. Use the brush or
compressed air until the negative
is perfectly dust-free. Bear in
mind that the darkroom safelight
is not bright enough to reveal
dust. Turn the enlarger or room
light on for this purpose.
3. Place the negative holder into the
enlarger and turn the enlarger
light on.
Generally, you will turn a lever to
lift the lighting unit out of the
way, slide the holder into place
and lower the lighting unit back
into place.
Be careful not to dislodge more
dust when you do this. In other
words, be gentle. If you suspect
that dust is hiding in your enlarger,
then clean it.
4. Place the easel under the lens.
5. Adjust the height of the enlarger
and the position of the easel until
the image is cropped the way
you want it to be.
6. Turn off all room lights at this
point, leaving only one or two
safelights on.
7. Open the enlarger lens to its
largest aperture and focus it.
A/ways focus at the largest aperture.
This will ensure that you
have enough light to focus accurately.
Remember to open the
lens and re-focus every time you
raise or lower the enlarger head.
For best results, use a grain
focuser.
8. Close the lens down two stops.
This is a point-oj'-departure setting.
Once you have acquired
some darkroom experience, you'll
learn to use other f-stops to
achieve the effects you want.
9. Cover the lens with the safelight
filter.
10. Place a piece of photo paper on
the easel.
11. Expose the paper for the correct
amount of time.
Follow the instructions for making
a test strip if you don't know
what the "correct" time is.
12. Slide the paper into the developer,
face-up.
13. Immediately turn the paper facedown
and let it sit for 30 seconds.
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