Photographic Printing - Printing On Black-and-white Paper

Printing On Black-and-white Paper

The process consists of four major steps, performed in a photographic darkroom or within an automated photo printing machine. These steps are:

• Exposure of the image onto the sensitized paper using a contact printer or enlarger;

• Processing of the latent image using the following chemical process:
  • Development of the exposed image reduces the silver halide in the latent image to metallic silver;
  • Stopping development by neutralising, diluting or removing the developing chemicals;
  • Fixing the image by dissolving undeveloped silver halide from the light-sensitive emulsion:
  • Washing thoroughly to remove processing chemicals protects the finished print from fading and deterioration.

Optionally, after fixing, the print is treated with a hypo clearing agent to ensure complete removal of the fixer, which would otherwise compromise the long term stability of the image. Prints can be chemically toned or hand coloured after processing.