How to Develop Slide Film
The hardware and the chemicals necessary for developing slide film (often referred to as E6) are readily available from any photo store--if no such stores are available locally, all of your supplies can be purchased online. You will need a room with a sink and counter space and the items listed here. Then follow these steps to develop slide film.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Film developing tank
- Film developing reel
- Light-proof changing bag
- Scissors
- Water bath (for temperature control)
- Thermometer
- E6 developer kit (all of your chemicals)
- Minimum 5 plastic pint bottles with caps
- Church key bottle/can opener
- Clock with second hand
- Clothespin
Instructions
-
-
1
Set your plastic or metal film reel to the right size for your film. Move one end of the reel along the central hub until it clicks into place at the right size.
-
2
Set out the following items in your darkroom or place them inside your changing bag: the canister of film, a church key bottle opener (or you can purchase a special film canister opener), the plastic or steel film reel which you have previously set to the correct size, your plastic film developing tank and a pair of scissors.
-
-
3
Open the flat end of the film canister using your church key or a specialized film canister opener. This step must be done in total darkness. Remove the film and its small reel. Only touch the edges of the film with your fingers. Locate the lead end of the film and cut it square with your scissors.
-
4
Thread film into the opening of the film reel. Then, holding one reel in each hand, gently twist the reels back and forth in opposite directions while using the tips of your fingers to gently guide the film as it winds itself smoothly onto your film reel. This requires some practice. Work slowly so that your film does not bind and winds easily onto your reel. When the film is loaded onto the reel cut the end of the film free of its spool.
-
5
Place the reel into the film tank and tighten the lid of the tank.Turn on the lights or remove the film tank from the changing bag.
-
6
Mix your chemicals carefully, following instructions from the kit. Only mix as much as you need. Label not only your bottles but the bottle caps as well. It is vital that the color developer (the second developer) not contaminate your first developer at all. Even accidentally switching bottle caps could be disastrous.
-
7
Place your bottles of chemicals as well as your film tank into your water bath tray. Set the temperature to precisely 38 degrees Celsius. Leave all of your chemicals as well as your film tank in the water bath until they come up to the proper temperature. Use a color film thermometer to double check that the water and your chemicals have reached precisely 38 degrees.
-
8
Pour the developer into your tank and start your timer. Different tanks require differing amounts of developer so read the manufacturer's instructions and pour in the proper amount. Agitate the tank every fifteen seconds to prevent bubbles from forming on your film and destroying your work. Unless otherwise instructed, leave the developer in the tank for precisely 6 minutes. Just before the 6 minutes are up dump your developer back into the developer bottle and at precisely 6 minutes pour your bottle of 38-degree water into your tank. Agitate the tank for two minutes, then pour out the water. Add water a second time, agitate and pour out the water.
-
9
Pour the color developer into the tank and start timing. Agitate every 15 seconds for precisely 6 minutes. Pour color developer back into its marked bottle and rinse your developer tank with mildly warm water for two minutes. The temperature of the water is no longer critical.
-
10
Add the bleach/fix mixture to the tank and agitate every 15 seconds for 6 minutes. Pour the bleach/fix mixture back into its bottle and then rinse the development tank with warm water for 4 minutes.
-
11
If you are using a stabilizer add it to your tank and agitate for 1 minute. Pour it back into its bottle and then rinse your tank for 2 minutes with warm running water.
-
12
Open the tank and very carefully remove the film reel. Use a clothespin or a special film clip to clip the end of the film to a line so it can hang freely to dry. Clip a small weight to the bottom end of the film to keep it straight while drying. Once dry your film can be cut and the individual images mounted in cardboard slide sleeves, which are readily available at any photo store.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be extremely careful when removing your wet film from the tank as the film is easily torn at this stage.
Be exact with your times and temperatures for both the first developing and rinse as well as the second developing. After that temperatures are not so critical and neither are times (within reason!).
Your E6 developing kit should contain the following: film developer, color developer and bleach/fix (sometimes these two are mixed separately). With some kits you will have a bottle of a stabilizer. You will also need a bottle of plain water which is precisely 38 degrees Celsius, exactly the same as your developers.
