Developing film

Allan Batchelor

Allan Batchelor

Well-Known Member
So for the few of us who have never done this whats involved. I have read a couple of things on it but seems to vary a little from what i can pick up lol.

Im not saying I will give it a go but you never know :)
 
The process isn'tthat difficult really but you do need some kit to do it, Light tight bag (Changing Bag) to unload the film from the canister, Film Developing Tank and reels (Usually comes all together, Chemicals, (Developer and Fix) and around 1 hour but be prepared for it to take over. Oh and a clock as you'll need to time the process. Temperature isn't critical in B&W but should generally be around the 20 degrees C, thats the chems not the room.

Chemicals vary in dilution but all do pretty much the same thing and water will work as a stop and wash.

If you never done it before I would personally get to know someone who has and has the kit and get them to show you.
 
It's quite easy!
The first time I did it was watching a tutorial on YouTube!
If you can bare with me, I intend on doing a video tutorial my self in the not to distant future!
 
The most challenging part is getting the film onto the reels. You can get plastic reels or stainless steel. Either way, I'd recommend getting a sacrificial roll of film and practicing getting the film onto the reels in daylight with your eyes open to see what you're doing, then trying it with your eyes closed, and when you feel ready, do it with a real film in the changing bag or your darkroom.
 
im in no real hurry hamish. Just wanted an idea incase this film stuff becomes part of my hobby lol. Thats when I get a camera lol
 
Allan Batchelor said:
im in no real hurry hamish. Just wanted an idea incase this film stuff becomes part of my hobby lol. Thats when I get a camera lol
Click to expand...

Still no Joy eh?

Ill get round to it sometime the week after next!
Last week of renovations to my house this week, on top of which I have a mental week this week taking photos of furniture all week! :/

When I do the video it will be aimed very much at the beginner, so hopefully it should help :)
It is very easy, but there are a few little things that it is important you get right ...
 
I just developed 2 rolls over the week end after not having done it for years. The first roll went on the spiral OK the second was a real ******* for some reason and took 3 attempts. Both came out ok though but the first was a bit overdone. I used BW chemicals to develop Kodak 400CN, a C-41 process film. You can still do it but supposed to reduce developing time, I only discovered that afterwards. I used some mineral water bottles to store the mixed chemicals in and a load of syringes to measure the amounts of each chemical. I mixed the exact amount that I needed which in my case is 310ml of each. Also used a set of cheap plastic giant pegs to weigh the end of the film and to hang it to a curtain pole to dry. I found that if I hunted around over the space of a few weeks I was able to find most of the things I needed very cheaply.

I've been a complete moron though - after I cut the film up I dropped it and it got got very dusty. I decided to wash it, seemed logical to me. As soon as I added water to the tray the strips I carefully laid out immediately all stuck together! I wont do that again, I can tell ya!

I live in a very hard water area though and even with wetting agent I still get some water marks. Anyone suggest anything? I read that you can add IPA but saw mixtures of anywhere from 1% to 30%. Will this work?
 
Pete ...
I dont suppose you could either hunt out or tell me again how to deal with these id11 chems ... i cant make any sense of the instructions in the box!

Do i need quite a large container to store them chems in?
Do you have any recommendations?
 
What size pack did you buy, 1 litre or 5 litres?

In either case, heat 3/4 of final volume of water (ie 750ml if you bought the 1 litre box) to about 40ºC and then dissolve contents of bag A (takes about an hour usually with a bit of stirring). Then add contents of bag B and dissolve (about 15 mins). Allow to cool to about 20ºC and then make up to final volume (1 litre) and mix thoroughly. Now you can decant it into storage bottles. It will keep in unopened bottles for several months. Those concertina ones you can buy are good. I use glass Duran bottles from the lab! If you want to store it for more than a day or so you need to minimise the amount of headspace in the bottle - that's why the concertina ones are good. Now you can either use the developer undiluted, mixed 1:1 with water or 1:3 with water. You adjust the times to suit based on the instructions for the film. I usually use it undiluted in a deep tank and hand tanks or 1:3 in a processor.

There is a data sheet on the Ilford site.

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Ah ... yes, that makes sense
Looking at the fact sheet, it looks for developing 3200 delta (what i bought it for) I need to use it "stock" ... I asume that means not diluted!

I got a litre pack, it takes about a litre to fill my 3 roll paterson tank ... so am i right in thinking that this id11 1 litre pack is good for developing 3 rolls of 35mm delta 3200 ...

Or am i being an idiot?
 
that perceptol looks interesting ...
I quite fancy seeing just how good a quality neg i can get maybe using panf? might that be a good option?
 
Hamish Gill said:
Ah ... yes, that makes sense
Looking at the fact sheet, it looks for developing 3200 delta (what i bought it for) I need to use it "stock" ... I asume that means not diluted!

I got a litre pack, it takes about a litre to fill my 3 roll paterson tank ... so am i right in thinking that this id11 1 litre pack is good for developing 3 rolls of 35mm delta 3200 ...

Or am i being an idiot?
Click to expand...

All correct Hamish. You might even be able to run several sets if you save the developer and extend the time by 10% each time (ie normal + 10% and then this total + 10% for the next batch etc). Have a look to see what the capacity is on P7 of the fact sheet: capacity of 1 litre is 10 rolls..
 
Cheers Pete!
When I'm not doing all this moving around of stuff in my house, I'll give it a go!
I have a film from the Worcester fayre night :)
 
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