How to Print B&W Photographs in a Darkroom

Step 8 Focus your picture

Alright, so we've got the negative in, since you already know how to focus the enlarger from step 5, this step is mainly for people who purchased grain enlargers.

• Turn on the enlarger, and open the f-stop to the widest aperture (the light will be brightest)
• Position the easel underneath your enlarger, and raise/lower the head so that you like how the picture is copped on it.

-If you don't see any picture, but the light is on, check to make sure it's not tremendously unfocused.

• If you don't have a grain enlarger, this is where the road (or step) ends for you. Just focus the image to the best of your ability (Don't worry, you can usually do pretty well without one) and then turn it off.

If you do have a grain enlarger, follow these steps:

• Place it under the enlarger (with the light turned on)

*Be careful not to block the light with your head*

• Find a bright white dot through the eye piece of the grain enlarger - you may only be able to find it by backing up a bit
• Slowly get closer to it, looking at the white dot, once you're all the way up to it, you'll be able to tell whether or not it is focused. If it is, each and every dot (pixel, for those of you used to digital) will be clearly visible. If you can't see the grain, turn the focusing knob until you can.
• Voila, you're focused! Go ahead and put the grain enlarger away, and turn off the enlarger.