How to Develop Black-and-White Film

Developing your own film requires precision and practice, but, once mastered, gives you greater control over the final image.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Negative Storage Files
• Stirring Rods
• Thermometers
• Scissors
• Storage Bottles
• Darkroom Timers
• Developing Tank And Reels
• Film-hanging Clips
• Fixer
• Hypo Clearing Agent
• Plastic Graduates
• Stop Bath

Loading the Film

1. Take film, bottle opener, scissors, developing tank and reels into a lightproof room.
2. Organize the materials on a table.
3. Turn off the light.
4. Open the film canister at either end with the bottle opener.
5. Take the film out of the canister and cut off the tab at the end to create a straight edge.
6. Insert the edge into the clip at the center of the reel.
7. Thread the film between the wire spiral on the top and bottom of the reel.
8. Pull the end of the film off the spool and remove the tape.
9. Drop the loaded reel into the developing tank and secure the lid.
10. Turn the light back on.
11. Remove the top lid from the developing tank.

Developing the Film

12. Mix chemicals according to directions. Keep the chemicals in collapsible storage containers.
13. Pour 8 oz. developer into the top of the tank when using an 8-oz. developing tank.
14. Tap the tank against the counter to dislodge bubbles.
15. Agitate the tank by slowly inverting it and turning it back over for the first 15 seconds.
16. Repeat every 30 seconds for the recommended time (usually 5 to 8 minutes).
17. Pour the developer back into the storage container.
18. Pour stop bath into the now-empty developing tank.
19. Agitate the stop bath and let stand for 1 minute.
20. Pour out the stop bath and replace with fixer.
21. Agitate the fixer for 15 seconds and then for 15 seconds once every minute for the allotted time.
22. Pour the fixer back into its bottle.
23. Remove the lid of the tank and run water into the tank for 15 minutes.
24. Add wetting agent to the water to expedite drying.
25. Remove the film from the tank.
26. Attach a clip to the end of the film, pull the film off the reel and attach another clip at the opposite end.
27. Hang the film in a dry, dust-free area.
28. Store dry negatives in plastic negative sleeves.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice loading discarded film onto reels before loading unexposed film in the dark.
• Keep materials close at hand when in a lightproof room.
• Plastic tanks with easy-load reels are an alternative to stainless steel tanks and reels.
• The optimal temperature for most developers is 68 degrees F. Processing at a significantly higher or lower temperature will result in soft, easily damaged film or flat negatives.
• Do not remove the top of the developing tank to look at the film until after the fixing stage.
• Use storage bottles that are just the right size for the amount of developer you are mixing. Label a chemical with its name, date and dilution.
• Begin timing each step as you pour chemicals into the developing tank, and start draining chemicals 10 seconds before the time is up.

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