Black-and-white film can yield incredible visual results when processed properly.
In the digital age, black-and-white photography has fallen by the wayside. Popularity doesn't make good art, though. There is nothing so striking as a well-taken and properly processed black-and-white photograph.
Developing black-and-white film is a simple procedure. With a little bit of special equipment, a very dark room and lots of patience, you can develop high-quality black-and-white film at home.
Instructions
1. Turn off the lights and let your eyes adjust to the dark. If you see any light sneaking through doors or cracks in the wall, tape them with dark masking tape or stuff a towel under doors. Too much light can cause the film to scorch; however, a red light is safe to use near black-and-white film if you need lighting.
2. Pry the lid off the film canister with the poptop opener, being careful not to cut yourself. The film will be wrapped around a plastic spool. Lift the spool out of the center of the canister and gently pull the film off. If the end doesn't want to come out, cut it close to the spool.
3. Wind the film around the developing reel that goes into the developing tank. A plastic reel is easiest for beginners. Load the reel by inserting the tab at the end of the film into the corresponding slot on the spool and work the film to the center by twisting the sides of the reel back and forth (make sure your hands go in opposite directions) until the film is all taken up.
4. Place the reel into the developing tank. If you have other film to process, repeat steps 2 and 3 for each roll. Fill any extra room on the tank spindle with empty reels to prevent reel movement. Ensure that the lid is on correctly before turning the light on. Most developing tanks have a small lid on the main lid that will come off so the tank can be filled with chemicals while the light is on. Be sure the small lid is closed and secure before you start to agitate.
5. Mix the C-41 developer, stop bath and fixer according to package directions (these will vary, so read them carefully) and store in bottles specially designed for photography chemicals. The developer instructions will specify the time required for processing (again, this varies).
6. Set your timer and fill the development tank through the small opening in the top until the tank feels full and the liquid can be seen through the opening. Start the timer, close the opening and agitate the tank slowly by turning it upside down and righting it, approximately once every 30 seconds. Some older tanks leak, so agitate over the sink, if possible.
7. Remove the lid from the small opening after the timer goes off. Empty the tank. Single-use developer can be poured down the sink (or disposed per package directions). Standard reusable developer can be poured back into the bottle of developer mixed earlier. Flush the tank with water for about two minutes.
8. Fill the tank with stop bath and proceed according to package directions. It is difficult to injure film with stop bath, so just be sure to agitate properly for at least the time specified. Most stop baths will turn blue when they've lost strength, so check the color before returning it to the bottle of prepared stop bath. Dispose of blue stop bath.
9. Fill the tank with fixer solution. Fixer times vary, so read the package instructions. Agitate as above for the time specified on the package. Pour the fixer back into the bottle of prepared fixer, or dispose of it.
10. Remove the lid of the developing tank and rinse the film while it's in the tank with cold running water for about three minutes to remove any chemicals that might remain. Take the reels out of the tank. Remove the film by grasping the end and pulling gently. Hang the wet film on a line or wire until it dries completely.
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