How To Develop Film In A Darkroom With Pictures

A film reel. The reel is what you’ll load the film onto once you take it out of the cassette. A film tank. A film tank is a sealable plastic container that you’ll develop the film negatives in. A cassette opener. You’ll use the cassette opener to open the film so you can load it on the reel. Scissors. You’ll need scissors to cut the film off the cassette.

Make sure your phone is turned off and put away so it doesn’t light up and ruin the film.

When you’re finished, all of the film should be securely wrapped around the reel. There shouldn’t be any film sticking out.

Mix the developer and water in a metal or plastic container, not in the film tank. You don’t need to stir the developer and water together. You can find film developer online or at your local photography store.

If you can’t find the developing times for your brand of film, try looking them up online. Film typically needs 8. 5 to 11 minutes to develop.

First minute of developing: Agitate the film for 30 seconds. Then, place the tank on a flat surface for 20 seconds. After 20 seconds, agitate the film for the remaining 10 seconds of the first minute. Second minute of developing: Let the film tank rest on a flat surface for 50 seconds. Then, agitate the film for the last 10 seconds of the second minute. Subsequent minutes of developing: Repeat the same agitation and rest times you used in the second minute of developing for every minute until the film is finished developing.

You can find stop bath online or at your local photography store.

You can find film fixer online or at your local photography store.

You can find a wetting agent online or at your local photography store.

Let the film dry for several hours before you unclip it. If the darkroom you’re in has a film dryer, hang the film up inside of it to speed up the drying time. With a dryer, it may only take the film 20 minutes to dry.

You can find film cleaner online or at your local photography store.

Store the plastic sleeves in a binder or folder when you’re finished. You can find plastic film sleeves online or at your local photography store.