I'm setting up my little darkroom and I need help.

[compur]

My enlarger as a little red colored plastic "flap" that can be flipped under the lens. Is this a filter? It's for changing the contrast, right?

The purpose is to allow you to focus on a sheet of B&W paper without
exposing the paper (theoretically, anyway) because B&W paper isn't sensitive
to red light (theoretically).

I advise not using it. Instead have a sheet of paper that you only use
for focusing and then replace it with a fresh sheet for the actual exposure.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

The purpose is to allow you to focus on a sheet of B&W paper without
exposing the paper (theoretically, anyway) because B&W paper isn't sensitive
to red light (theoretically).

I advise not using it. Instead have a sheet of paper that you only use
for focusing and then replace it with a fresh sheet for the actual exposure.

In fact that's exactly how I have been doing it. I didn't like the idea of shining that red light on my paper.

Wash time for prints depend on whether they are on resin-coated paper or an uncoated fiber [paper] base. RC wash time is 2 minutes. Uncoated paper, especially double weight, requires a far longer wash time.

Papers come with instruction sheets. These indicate wash times.

You can usually look up information on your fixer and developer which will estimate the number of prints, usually 8x10 size, which can be processed. By purchasing a stop bath with an indicator, you can determine its degree of exhaustion by a color change.

Oh, ok. The paper I have is Ilford Ilfospeed. It's Resin Coated.

My stop bath is Ilfostop. I read it changes colour when it's exhausted, right?

 

[randerson07]

Ilfospeed?

Thats the quick developing stuff for machines isnt it?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Ilfospeed?

Thats the quick developing stuff for machines isnt it?

http://www.canemco.com/catalog/Technical_sheets/Ilfospeed RC Deluxe.pdf

ILFOSPEED RC DeLuxe paper can be either
dish/tray processed or machine processed in
automatic processors designed for black and white
paper processing.

This is it.