Step 1: In a well equipped darkroom you will have all the materials you need.  Make sure that only the darkroom light (a red light) is on before you take your paper out of the packaging or it will be ruined.

Step 2: You will need to make a contact sheet before you print your photos so you can see which ones you want to print. You will need a piece of glass to place over your negative sleeve sheet.

Step 3: Place a strip of paper (about 2 inches wide) under your negative sleeve sheet - aligned in the opposite direction of your negatives. Put the piece of glass over the test strip and negative sleeve sheet. Put the aperture on the lowest setting so light covers the whole sheet.

Step 4: Using a piece of cardboard, cover the whole strip except an inch. Expose the strip for 2 seconds.

Step 5: Move the cardboard so another inch shows and expose it for another 2 seconds.

Step 6: Repeat this until you reach the end of the strip. This allows you to determine how long you will expose your contact sheet.

Step 7: You should have three trays of chemicals (in order: developer, stop-bath, fixer) and a water-bath. Keep a separate pair of tongs for each tray. Allowing chemicals to mix can ruin them.

Step 8: Place your paper in the developer. You will see the image start to appear on your paper. Check the chemical's directions for how long to keep your paper in the developer (test strips do not need to stay in too long). Agitate the paper by rocking the tray back and forth for the entire developing stage.

Step 9: Pick up the paper with the tongs and hold it in the air to let the excess developer fall into the tray.

Step 10: Put the paper in the stop-bath tray. Times will vary so check the directions of the chemical bottle.

Step 11: Before putting the paper into the fixer tray let the excess stop-bath drip off like before.

Step 12: Put the paper in the fixer tray. Once again, Times will vary so check the chemical's directions.

Step 13: After your paper is done in the fixer tray, put it in a water-bath for a few seconds. (NOTE: for an actual print it must be in there for about 5 minutes)

Step 14: From the test strip you can see the appropriate time needed for exposure. the strip will be in increments. If you exposed the paper for 2 seconds each time the strip will be 2, 4, 6, 8, etc seconds.

Step 15: You must do all the appropriate settings before putting your paper on the masking board because the light needs to be on in order to see what you are doing.

Step 16: Lay a piece of paper under your negative sleeve sheet and then place the piece of glass on top. Expose the sheet for the time you picked from your test strip.

Step 17: Repeat steps 8-13 to develop your paper. Remember that the water-wash time should be about 5 minutes for full sheets of paper.

Step 18: From your contact sheet, choose a photo you want to print and find the negative.

Step 19: Place the negative in the negative carrier (as seen below) and line up the frame you want with the square hole. The negative must be upside down with the shiny side up.

Step 20: Place the negative carrier inside its slot in the enlarger and tighten so it does not move.

NOTE: All equipment is different, these are general guidelines, please refer to the manual or your teacher for specific instructions for your equipment.

Step 21: The two aspects you will be changing on your enlarger are the contrast and the aperture. Remember that the aperture changes how much light is let through. The lower the aperture the brighter your picture will be. The contrast setting will change the intensity of your blacks and whites.

Step 22: Setting the contrast to the middle (often a setting of 4) option and the aperture to 5.6 creates a good start for your picture. You will need to play with the settings to find the perfect ones.

Step 23: You need to create a test strip like you did for the contact sheet. Refer to steps 3-6 for a reminder on how to do this. However, you do not need the piece of glass. Just put down the strip on the masking board.

Step 24: Once you know how long you should expose your negative for, you are ready to make your print.

Step 25: Turn on the light of your enlarger in order to set up your picture.

Step 26: Moving the enlarger up and down (there is a knob for this on most enlargers) will change the size of your picture. Place your masking frame (what holds down your paper) under the enlarger. Alter the sizing bars until you achieve the size you want.

Step 27: Move the enlarger up and down until the light it is the same size as your set-up masking frame.

Step 28: Remember to turn off the light before you take out your paper. Place a sheet of paper under the masking frame bars. Make sure your timer is set correctly and then expose your print for the specified time.

Step 29: You now have created your first print and you need to follow steps 8-13 again to develop it. Remember that your pictures need to be in the water-wash for at least 5 minutes.

Step 30: Let your pictures dry before doing anything with them. Make sure to not get dust or fingerprints on them while drying.