Developing Tray

Overview

Print processing happens in trays, usually three or four in a row: developer, stop, fixer, and sometimes a wash or hypo clear. The tray is deliberately shallow and wide so that a sheet of paper can be slid in flat and agitated by rocking without the chemistry spilling.

Size is the specification that matters. A tray should be at least one size larger than the biggest print you make — an 11 × 14 inch tray for 8 × 10 prints — so you can get your fingers under the paper without creasing it. The ribbed base helps chemistry circulate under the sheet and stops it sticking.

Colour-code your trays and never mix them up. Developer contamination with fixer causes flat, grey prints that are hard to diagnose. Many darkrooms use white for developer, red for stop and grey for fixer.

What it does well

• Allows even, flat processing of sheet paper
• Ribbed base prevents the print from sticking to the bottom
• Sold in matched sets so a full line fits a bench
• Cheap, stackable, easy to clean
• Buy one size larger than your biggest print

Safety notes

Working notes

• Buy one size larger than your largest print so you can handle the paper without creasing it.
• Keep the developer tray furthest from the fixer to reduce the chance of a splash contaminating it.
• Use a separate tray for hypo clear — a contaminated one will leave stains.
• Rinse trays immediately after use; dried fixer is much harder to remove.

Compatible with