how do you prepare negatives to use in a dark room?

Question

unprocessed spool

uuugh what im asking is that after the pictures and before you expose them onto paper do you have to do anything??

Answer 1

Negatives need to be developed before they can be printed onto paper. This is a chemical process, usually done in a "tank". Film is wound onto a "reel" (in total darkness) placed into the tank where is developed with various chemical baths. After it is developed and fixed it is removed and dried (dust free), then it may be printed. This process isn't particularly difficult but is too complicated to go through here. You really need to take a class or buy books.

Answer 2

Your question is a bit vague. As you asking how to open a film cassette and load it in the reel--that sort of question?

There isn't much you have to do to prepare the negative for processing. It has to be done obviously very carefully. If you are venturing into color slide (process E-6), be sure to get the temperature of all the chemicals (and this includes the water to rinse the film) very precisely (especially the developer). And there is no safe light of any kind is allowed at all until a few steps later.

I have ruined a few rolls of Ektachrome slides that way! Kodacolor C-41 is easier to deal with.

Answer 3

If they are already processed, then just make sure they are dust free, that would ruin your print

But if its an unprocessed spool, then the process is a little longer.

I worked in a darkroom, as part of my time on a community newspaper. We worked in Black and white, film and prints.
It was a few years ago, I'll do my best to answer any other questions you have.

I was going to set up a darkroom myself, but ended up going digital.

Answer 4

You said UNprocessed negatives. Then it sounded like you wanted info only on printing from them... Naturally it's a given that the negs must be dried prior to printing. You can hang the roll , weighted, to dry.
Or am I misunderstanding your query?