Equipment Preparation
In this lesson we shall be processing a 35mm roll of film using a selected developer. Before we begin it is important to make sure that everything needed is available:-
- Film Developer (Ilfotec HC)
- Premixed Stop Bath
- Premixed Fix (Found in the accordion container)
- Chamois Cloth or a Squeegee
- Developing Tank complete with Funnel, Lid and Spindle
- A dry Film Reel
- Three Measuring Cylinders marked ‘Developer,’ ‘Stop’ and ‘Fixer’
- Smaller Measuring Cylinder (for measuring out developer)
- Jug of Water at 20°C
- Film Canister Opener or Film Retriever
- Film Clips (one metal and one plastic)
- Scissors, Film Sleeves
Chemical Preparation
You need three chemicals to process a film, developer, stop and fixer. These should be prepared before you remove the film from its canister.
Developer
Choosing your developer is an important stage in controlling the amount of contrast or grain on your negative. More information can be found on the internet and from your darkroom manager about the various types of developers we stock. For the purpose of this tutorial we will be using Ilfotec HC developer. This is a standard fine grain developer.
The first thing to do is check the concentration and development time of your film by logging onto the members section on the laptop and going to Massive Dev Chart (google this) to find your selected film, and selected developer. Depending on the ISO speed of the film and the actual ISO you shot the film at you are given a choice of concentrations and developing times. Select an appropriate combination (between 5-15 mins)
Mix the solution by measuring out appropriate amounts of the developer with 20°C water e.g. The processing instructions for Ilford HP5 Plus say that you need a 1+31 concentration of Ilfotec HC developer. A standard 35mm film tank requires 300ml of solution to develop one roll of film. We provide Ilfotec HC developer in two forms, syrup (straight out the bottle) and pre-diluted (labelled black concertina container) –either can be used. For syrup you just mix 1 part developer with 31 parts water as required. The pre-diluted solution has been pre-mixed 1+3, so to get to the 1+31 target you need to mix it 1+7 making a total of 1+31. The pre-diluted solution is easier to mix and measure so mix it 1+7 to make up 300ml of solution at 20°C.
Stop – This is provided already diluted. Just pour out 300ml of it into a measuring cylinder. Fixer – This is an expensive chemical, so we have provided communal premixed solution in a black accordion cylinder.
Loading the Film
This is most difficult stage of processing. Find a dry film reel (otherwise the film will stick) and place it together with a developing tank, funnel, spindle and lid on a table together with a pair of scissors and either a film retriever or film can opener. Make sure you have everything set out so you can access it easily in the dark.
Using a film retriever is fairly tricky, but makes things easier instructions can be found near the power socket. The alternative method is to use the film can opener. Switch the lights off, the fan off and lock the door. Go back to the table and open the film canister. Cut the lip of the film off and feed it into the reel. Once you’ve emptied the canister, cut the film off and place the reel onto a spindle into the tank and lock the funnel into place. You can now turn the lights on.
Processing
Check that the temperature of the developer is 20°C. Set the timer for 15 seconds before the ascertained time and start it. Begin pouring the developer into the tank and close it with the lid within those 15 seconds. Slowly agitate the tank by tilting it upside down four times during the first 10 seconds. Repeat this every minute. As the timer nears zero, prepare to empty the developer down the drain.
Once the tank is empty, empty the stop bath measuring cylinder into the tank and set the timer for 20 seconds and agitate the tank constantly. It doesn’t matter if you spend too long with this stage. Empty the stop bath back into the measuring cylinder.
Now that the stop bath has been done; set the timer for 6 minutes, perhaps more if you are using recycled fixer. Agitate the tank as you did for the developer stage. Pour the fixer back into the measuring cylinder. It’s a good idea to check your film has been fixed at this stage. Take the reel out of the tank and without unrolling the film check carefully if the film looks transparent and is without a milky fogging. If you find it has not been fixed properly just place back in the tank and refix for an extra 5 mins.
Finishing
To wash the film, fill the tank, then using a vigorous twisting motion agitate the tank. Repeat this step 6 times dumping the water each time. Now the last step is to give the film a wetting agent wash. Mix wetting agent (Ilford Ilfotol bottle) at 1:200 dilution. Then give the film a last bath with this solution and let it sit in it for a minute or so. Now prepare two film clips a metal one for the top and a plastic one for the bottom. Take your film out, clip it and move it to the drying cabinet to survey for streaks of water on the non-emulsion (glossy) side of the film. If you see any you can use a fresh piece of chamois cloth dipped in some of your wetting agent solution and gently wipe down that side of the film. If there is no chamois at hand then don’t try remove any streaks, just leave it to dry.
You’re done! Now leave the film to dry for 3-4 hours or overnight. If time is short you can turn the dryer on low setting for 20 mins or so, but I don’t recommend this. Once the film is dry cut them into strips of 6 and store in the provided film sleeves.
Disposal
Pour the fixer back into the bottle. Do not pour fixer down the drain. If you wish to discard your solution, pour it into the ‘Waste Fixer’ bottle. Pour the stop bath back into the bottle if it is still yellow. If it has turned purple, then pour it down the drain.
Created by James Mardell and updated by Sam Whitcomb and reupdated by Cheng Lao
May 5th, 2012 at 5:16 am
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