Film Development Charts: General Information

Film Development Charts

The lab supplies Sprint film developer, an excellent all-purpose developer for most black & white films. Your instructor may make a specific recommendation on a development dilution/time/temperature combination as a starting point. Note that when you look up film developing times on the data sheets that come with your film, they don't list Sprint film developer. However, Sprint film developer, diluted 1:9 is equivalent to Kodak D-76 developer diluted 1:1 or Ilford ID-11 developer, diluted 1:1. Not that high-speed films such as Kodak T-Max 3200 film, are intended for development in D-76 stock solution, not diluted D-76. See the charts provided on this lab manual for the developing times necessary for this film when using Sprint developer..

In addition to the charts provided in this lab manual, here are a few useful links if you are looking for up-to-date information on a particular film:

(The above sites provide data sheets and complete developing information for all of their films.)

Sprint Systems of Photography: developing information for all films using Sprint developer

Film development controls the contrast of your negatives: more development = more contrast; less development = less contrast. As you become involved in the printing of your negatives, you will probably want to make adjustments to your film development in order to obtain more printable negatives. Ask your instructor to help you to evaluate your negatives so that you can make these adjustments to future rolls.

A few suggestions about using these charts:

Development data from charts are only a starting point: There is no one correct development time and temperature for a particular film. With some experience you should arrive at a personalized development for the film based upon the way that you photograph and print.

Consistency is important! Try to standardize your processing procedures so that you alter only one variable at a time, either dilution, time, temperature, or agitation. Otherwise, it will be difficult or impossible for you to obtain consistent results.

Film can be safely developed in a temperature range between 65 and 75 degrees, but even a 2-degree change in temperature will substantially alter the development of the film.

Manufacturers often will on give data for their own developers, but virtually all black and white films can be developed in the Sprint film developer provided in the lab*. If you can't find the data you need in these charts, ask your instructor for more information. Note that Kodak D-76 developer, diluted 1:1 is identical to Ilford ID-11 developer diluted 1:1 and that both are equivalent to Sprint film developer diluted 1:9.

Development data change from time to time, based upon the manufacturers changes or improvements to films. Whenever there is a conflict between two charts, use the most recent one and refer to the instructions included with the film itself.

*Note: You should not attempt to develop Ilford XP-2 film or any Kodak film whose name ends in "CN" (color negative)
in any black & white developer. Although these films are is intended for black & white printing, they are designed to be developed in a color processor. You can have them processed at any supermarket or drugstore that processes color negative film and prints for a few dollars. (Specify "develop only" unless you want to pay for the prints as well.)