Join our groups
flickr facebook Follow zoominphoto on Twitter

Galleries

Darkroom Basics

A guide to the basic skills of black and white printing.



Course synopsis: Darkroom Basics

Darkroom Basics

Darkroom Basics covers the basics of black and white printing and is ideal for both beginners and those wishing to refresh their previous darkroom knowledge. Printing your own photographs is a great skill and it is fascinating to play around in the darkroom with chemicals and light sensitive paper and watch your photographs appear as if by magic. Learn how to produce a perfect print from your negatives, rather than sending them off to a mini lab! You will discover how to make test strips, contact sheets and how to produce quality prints. We will also explore exciting ways of manipulating basic printing techniques that enable you to improve on your original photograph. You will discover exciting techniques like


Aim of the course: Darkroom Basics

By the end of the course you will be able to print photographic prints from a negative using contrast filters and localised printing techniques and be able to use the darkroom by yourself.


Course Modules

Black and White Printing (Module 103) Show Details Show Details
  • Test strips
  • Contact sheets
  • Enlargements

Objectives of the Module
In this module you will learn how to produce a contact sheet from negatives. You will learn how to use the darkroom safely and use a combination of light-sensitive paper, enlargers and chemicals to produce prints. You will learn how to make test strips and produce quality final prints in the darkroom using a focus finder and a framing easel.

Practical Exercise
Making test strips Making contact sheets Making print enlargements

Image Quality (Module 104) Show Details Show Details
  • Variable Contrast Paper
  • Printing Controls: Dodging, Burning

Objectives of the Module
You will continue practice from Module 103 learning how to improve basic printing techniques through altering contrast in prints with variable contrast paper and localised print adjustments such as 'printing and shading-in' (or burning and dodging) techniques. You will assess your own understanding of each process and plan a further course of action or study to improve on the skills you have learnt.

Practical Exercise
Use of Variable Contrast Paper Burning and Dodging

Top


Course Dates

Evening Courses
Reference Session Day Dates Time Availability
1008-0784 1 Thursday 19th August 18:45 - 21:45 There is a waiting list for this course Join the waiting list
2 26th August 18:45 - 21:45
Top


Progression Routes

Darkroom Basics is also part of our Guide to photography courses. Please see our Photography Course planner for more details. You may also wish to go on to learn how to make the most out of your photographs by learning how to use your camera manually on our Camera Introduction and Camera Basics or learn how to develop your own film with Film Processing. This introductory photography workshop will provide you with the darkroom skills necessary for independent darkroom use and to progress to our Developing Photography skills Level 2 darkroom lessons such as Darkroom Techniques.
Top


You may also be interested in these other courses:

Top


Please make sure you have read our Course Terms & Conditions