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
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.
Tags: developing tank, stop bath, back into, bottle opener, film canister