Black and White Film Developing Process

How developing works
  1. When the shutter is release, the light enters the camera and falls on the light-sensitive emulsion on the film. At this stage the light-sensitive silver halide salts are invisible and must be "developed" with chemicals.
  2. The film developer turns the exposed silver salts into visible black metallic salt. The film must remain in the developer for a fixed amount of time and temperature stated in the instructions that comes with the developer
  3. Once done, the stop bath is used to arrest the action of the developer as well as to neutralize the alkalinity so that it would not be affecting the potency of the next chemical, the fixer.
  4. At this stage, the film carries a black negative image but the rest of the emulation still contains the unexposed silver salt. The fixer removed all the unexposed part of the film, leaving this part of the film transparent.
  5. Once this stage is done, the film is in its negative form, the film is then wash with water thoroughly to remove all trace of the fixer. This is important as the fixer will cause staining to the film is the film is not wash.
  6. A few drop of wetting agent is added to prevent drops of water from marking the film when the negatives dry.

 

Equipment required for developing black and white film
  1. Timer
  2. Scissors
  3. Changing Bag *If there is no darkroom available*
  4. Developing tank
  5. Film squeegee *Wet finger are fine*
  6. Film Clip
  7. Drying line
  8. 3 x Measuring Jug
  9. Mixing rod
  10. Thermometer
  11. Running water hose
  12. Film Picker *Bottle Opener might be used*
  13. Chemicals
    • Film Developer
    • Stop Bath *If not available, huge amount of water might be used*
    • Fixer
    • Wetting Agent *If not available, Detergent can be use*

 

Film developing process
  1. Preparing the chemicals
      2. Mix the chemical with water according to the instruction state by the manufacture. Normally the temperature and the ratio of the chemical to water are found with the packaging when the chemical is bought.
  2. Preparing the film
      3. If you are using a changing bag, load the scissors, film, bottle opener and the developing tank in it. By using a film opener, pry open the film canister. Once done, cut the protruding film off by feel.
      If you do have a film picker, you can pick the film with the light on first.. and then cut the protruding part of the film with a scissors and load the initial part to the reel before loading it into a changing bag or turning off the lights.
  3. Loading the film to the reel
      4. Place the film into the reel by feel if you have not done so. Wind the film back and forth in a clock wise and anti clock wise motion till all the film have been wind into it.
      *This is the trickiest part of the film development process. Make sure that your hands are dry and practice alot before doing so, and if it jam, remove the film from the reel and restart again.*
  4. Place reel in tank
      5. Cut the film from its spool and check the last part of the film is completely wound into the reel. Once done, placed the reel into the tank and screw on the lid of the tank nicely
  5. Pour in the developer
      6. Pour in the developer into the developing tank and start the timer.
  6. Agitate the tank
      7. Agitate the tank according to the instructions. You might be instructed to invert the tank, shake it or twist the stirrer. Normally for the first 30 sec, agitate the tank continuously and then for every 1/2 min agitate for 5 sec
  7. Remove the developer
      8. Once the timer is up, remove the developer. Depending on the developer, if it is a one shot developer pour off the developer to the sink, if it can be reused pour it back to the jug
  8. Using stop bath
      9. Quickly pour the stop bath into the developing tank and agitate it for 15 sec and leave for 30 sec.
  9. Pour in fixer
      10. Pour in the fixer and start the timer. Agitate for the first 30 sec, then once every 30 sec till the recommended time is reached. Once done, pour the fixer into its storage bottle
  10. Wash the film
      11. Wash the film in running water, if you got the luxury of time and water, keep it running for 30 mins. If not 5 mins would be good enough.
  11. Add in wetting agent
      12. Drop a few drop of wetting agent into the water filled developing tank and agitate for 30sec. Unscrew the cap of the tank and remove the reel from the tank
  12. Wipe the film
      13. Attach a film clip to the film and gently draw it out of the reel. Wipe away as much water as possible with a film squeegee. Fix another film clip to the other end of the film and attach it on the line to dry. Make sure that the film is dry in a dust-free area away from direct heat.
  13. Post-developing process
      14. Wash all the apparatus used and label any chemicals (especially the fixer) that could be reused with the date and number of film process

 

This wiki page on darkroom is written and updated by NUSPS 39th Darkroom Director, Chan Zhi Yao. For any enquires please do email me at darkroom@nusps.org.sg