Developing Film

Developing Film

To a large extent how you develop your film will dictate how your work will look when it is printed. Therefore, pay attention to the process. Learn the variables. Be consistent. It is a time/temperature process. That is, if the temperature goes up, the time will go down. The temperature should remain constant throughout the several steps involved. While all the steps are important, the developer stage is the most critical.

Equipment needed:

Developing Tank and Reels. The university supplies plastic tanks for student use. Make sure they are completely dry before you try to load your film into them.

Thermometer

Scissors

Can Opener

Graduated cylinders

Negative storage pages

Developing Procedure: this process is done in three steps. First is the development stage where the developer is poured into the tank and carefully agitated for the recommended time. Then the developer is stopped and the fixing stage is done. This stage is where the film is rendered no longer sensitive to light. Until this stage the film cannot be exposed to any light or it will be ruined. The last stage is washing the film so that all the chemistry is out of it.

So, step by step:

  1. In the film loading room, take the film out of the canister (remember, complete darkness) and put it on to the reels and into a developing tank. Bring it out making sure the top is on the developing tank and the film is safely inside.
  1. Prepare the chemistry (see the second sheet for precise mixing directions. You might need to check for the right time on http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?doc=timetemp)
  • Developer is HC 110
  • water rinse, 24º.
  • Fixer (temp same as above)

When your chemistry is mixed:

  1. Fill the tank with 24 C water for 30 seconds. Shake it a bit and tap the tank gently to knock loose any air bubbles.
  2. Pour out the water and pour in the developer (24 °C). Put the red cap on and begin to agitate by inverting the tank in the North-South-East-West pattern. Gently continue this method for the first thirty seconds.
  3. Agitate in the same manner five seconds every minute for the total developing time. Five seconds is about one time around the compass: N-S-E-W (you could also think of a turning möbius strip).
  4. Pour out developer and pour in the stop bath (two water rinses can be substituted for the stop bath but the temperature must stay consistent). Stop bath total time is 15 to thirty seconds. Pour stop bath back into container. Save it for someone else to use.
  5. Pour in Fixer. Agitate for one minute. Total fixing time is 4 minutes. Agitate 10 seconds every minute.Fixer removes the unexposed and undeveloped silver. After your film is fixed it is safe to open the tank (but not until it is fixed!)
  6. Wash for 5 minutes in running water. Fill and empty the tank.
  7. Hypo Clear continuous agitation for 1 minute
  8. 2nd wash for 5 minutes
  9. Add wetting agent, a few drops per tank of water, stir but don’t suds. Let film sit for about one minute. Temperature should be consistent (+ or – 5 degrees). Then open the reel carefully.
  10. Hang the film to dry. Turn the dryer off before opening to avoid dust coming in.
  11. Make sure it is completely dry and then cut it into strips and put immediately into negative pages. Do not touch the film surface with your fingers, wear cotton gloves. Handle by the edges only.

Finished!