Introduction to darkroom printing
Your first time at the enlarger
Got developed negatives and want to see how they become paper prints? This is the first session: a practical, hands-on introduction to the darkroom.
The first time under the red light
Walking into a dark lab with the red light on and watching an image slowly appear in the developer tray is an experience you don’t forget. No app comes close.
This session is for anyone who has never done it. We work at the enlarger: we project the negative onto the paper, focus, expose, develop and see the result. Simple, but far more satisfying than it sounds.
If you want to go further — local controls, dodging and burning, fibre-base papers — the Darkroom Printing workshop is the natural next step.
Contents
- Orientation in the darkroom: materials, safety and workflow
- The enlarger: types, parts, focus and light measurement
- Test strip: how to read it and decide the exposure
- Tray development: developer, stop bath and fixer
- Washing and drying the print
- Reading the result and basic adjustments
What’s included
- RC photographic paper (10 sheets)
- Chemicals: paper developer, stop bath, fixer
- Use of the enlarger and darkroom
What to bring
- Developed 35mm negatives if you have them. If not, we work with sample negatives.
Not included
- Additional paper (+€2/sheet RC, +€4/sheet fibre)
- Film development (if you don’t have negatives, do the B&W Development workshop first)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to develop film before printing?
You don't need any prior experience. The Introduction to darkroom printing workshop starts from scratch: you learn to make paper prints with an enlarger, from the negative to the dry print. If you want to understand development first, start with the Introduction to film development workshop.
Can I bring my own negatives to print?
Yes. The workshop includes practice negatives, but if you bring your own developed negatives we use yours to make the prints, so you leave with prints of your own photos.
How many prints will I make?
The price includes 10 sheets of RC paper per participant. Each sheet can give one large print or several contact prints. Additional paper costs extra (+€2/sheet RC, +€4/sheet fibre).
Where can I learn darkroom printing in Barcelona?
At Llumàtics, at Nau Bostik (Carrer Ferran Turné 1-11, La Sagrera, Barcelona 08027), in groups of up to 4 students. The workshop lasts 3 hours and starts at €170 for one student.
Workshop details
- Objective
- Make your first paper print using an enlarger, understanding the process from projection through to development.
- Methodology
- Hands-on practice: each student works at the enlarger with their own negatives or sample negatives.
- Outcome
- 1–2 paper prints made by the student. Understanding of the complete negative → print cycle.
- Prerequisites
- No prior development experience needed. If you have your own negatives, even better; if not, we work with sample material.
- Who it's for
- People who have never been in a darkroom and want to discover how a paper print is made.
Already done this workshop?
Access student materials →