Basic Film Developing Procedures

Basic Film Developing Procedures

Black & white film developing can be done either in the photo lab or at home, in your own kitchen or bathroom. There are two small, light-tight film-loading rooms in the photo lab which can be used for loading the film onto the reels. Film developing is done in the large sink in the open area of the lab. Since space at this sink and film-drying space in the cabinet is limited, you may find it preferable to developing your film at home (see page 14 for more on this).

Film must be loaded in total darkness. After entering the film-loading room, make sure that you lock the door. Never enter a film-loading room or any darkroom without first knocking!

Before you get started, a few helpful hints:

Read the labels carefully on the chemical storage tanks, including any posted instructions for dilution of these stock solutions. The developer stock solution is usually diluted. The fixer and hypo-clear solutions are used straight out of the storage tanks without dilution. Follow your instructor's recommendations for developer dilution, time and temperature, or see the charts included in this lab manual.

You will find it easier to keep track of which solution is which if you arrange them in sequence in a water bath. Fixer can always be identified by its acidic odor, whereas developer is odorless. You may find it helpful to use different shapes of beakers to store the different solutions so as to avoid confusing them later on.

The only chemical which is not dumped down the drain after use is the film fixer. After using it, dump it in the storage tank located in the film-developing sink that is marked for this purpose. (Used fixer is checked and recycled by the lab assistant.) Should you make a mistake and contaminate any tank of chemicals, notify your instructor or the lab assistant immediately!

The following page outlines the basic film developing process. Add your own notes to it based upon your instructor's recommendations and your own results.

(steps are read left to right....)

Developer D-76

Diluted 1:1

See film

developing

charts for

time and

temperature

Water

Rinse

30 seconds

fill & dump

5 times

Fixer

3-5 minutes

with agitation

(return used fixer to

container in sink)

Water

Rinse

30 seconds

(fill & dump

5 times)

Hypo-Clear

2 minutes with

agitation

(or use Orbit

Bath: ½ ounce

concentrate to

16 ounces water

Final Wash

5-10 minutes

in film washer

Photo-Flo

dilute ½ capful

of concentrate

to 16 oz. water

Soak for 30 seconds

Do not agitate

Dry

approximately ½ hr.

in film cabinet

with lights on

or until completely dry

Cut and Sleeve

as soon as possible

after drying

See also: "Developing Your Film At Home"