Wet Photography - Making a proof sheet

1. Arrange your trays in front of you so that, from left to right, you have developer, and the fixer. Then rinse your hands well and dry them thoroughly. Turn off all lights except for the safelight. The safelight should be placed at least 4 feet from your working area.
2. Open the package of paper, remove one sheet, and close the package again so that light can't get in. Place your negatives so that their dull side faces the emulsion (usually shiny) side of the paper. The negatives should be near the light source. Cover with glass.
3. If you're using an enlarger, place the empty negative carrier in the enlarger, and set the lens at f/11. Adjust the enlarger so that the light covers an area just a bit larger than your paper. Expose for about 8 seconds. Again, you may have to experiment to get the correct exposure time.
4. Remove the paper from your printing device with your left hand (don't get the right one wet with developer) and slide the paper, emulsion side up, into the developer (left-hand tray). Rock the tray gently for 1 minute by tipping up first one end, then the other.

Flash Tutorials in Video Format - Watch them now at LearnFlash.com  

5. Take the paper out of the developer with your left hand, and slip it into the fixer. Agitate frequently for 2 minutes, and keep it separated from any other prints in the tray. After the print has been in the fixer for 25-30 seconds, remove and place in water bath.
6. Examine your proof sheet and if most of the pictures seem too light, try again with double the exposure time you used at first. If most of the pictures seem too dark, use half the exposure time. It's a good idea to keep notes on your exposure times and the results. You'll soon be able to come up with a good average exposure time to use.
7. Using your water tray, wash the print for only 4 minutes at 64° to 75° F (18° to 24° C). The Automatic Tray Siphon provides continuous agitation.
8. Sponge or squeegee the surface water from both sides of the print and place it onto a flat surface to dry at room temperature.