Film Developing Process

Materials Needed:

 

 

STEPS:
  1. Place scissors, reel, developing tank (with post and lid), and your film in a darkbag. Carefully seal BOTH zippers.
  2. In a Dark Bag, remove the film from the film cartridge
  3. SQUARELY cut the film tab off the end of the roll
  4. SQUARELY cut the film off the reel with a pair of scissors
  5. Carefully, without touching the surface of the film, thread the film onto the developing reel.
    1. Push the end into the reel until the ball bearings take hold
    2. Twist the spool slowly to draw the film into the reel
    3.  Make sure ALL the film is inside the reel
  6. Slip the reel onto the developing tank post, sliding it all the way to the bottom
  7. Securely attach the lid to the developing tank.
  8. Remove ALL items from the darkbag (including the developing tank, the pieces of film you cut, and all 4 parts of the film cartridge)
  9. Throw cut pieces away and SAVE ALL 4 PARTS OF THE CARTRIDGE – PLACE THEM IN THE LARGE WHITE BUCKET
  10. Take the temperature of the chemical and cross-reference the temperature with the developing chart to determine development times. *check with Mr. Zorn
    1. Note: This is dependent on BOTH the FILM and DEVELOPER Brand
    2. For current materials use the following:

                                                               i.      At room temperature (70 Degrees)

1.       Developer – 1 ½ Cups for 7 Minutes

2.       Stop Bath – 2 Cups for 3 Minutes

3.       Fixer – 2 Cups for 7 Minutes (agitate for 5, sit for 2)

  1. Pour your developer into the tank and secure the lid. (If developer is yellow, check with Mr. Zorn)
  2. Set the Timer
  3. Agitate the tank 4 times every 30 seconds for the prescribed time, twisting the tank a half-turn on the counter after each agitation
  4. Half-way through the process, bang the tank once on a countertop
  5. When time is up, empty the developer into a sink (DUMP IT)
  6. Reset The Timer
  7. Fill the tank with water and agitate for 3 minutes (once every 30 seconds just like with the developer)
  8. Discard the water into the sink
  9. Reset The Timer
  10. Fill the tank with Fixer (if fixer is pink or purple check with Mr. Zorn) and agitate for 5 minutes (once every 30 seconds just like with the developer), then let it sit on the counter top for 2 minutes before emptying the fixer
  11. Empty the fixer into the used fixer container above the sink
    1. If the Fixer is pink or purple, check with Mr. Zorn before continuing the process
    2. After Fixing, it is safe to open the tank in light
  12. Wash your film, still in the reel, for at least 10 minutes in the darkroom film washer
  13. CLEAN UP (While your film is washing, rinse all developing tank parts thoroughly, dry them with a papertowel, and return all parts to the cabinets above the sink)
  14. When film is finished washing, remove it from the reel, gently squeegee off excess water and hang from dryer in corner to dry. The blow dryer will take about 10 minutes to dry your film.
  15. While film is drying, rinse film reel and place on drying rack in classroom to drip dry.
  16. After film is dry, cut into lengths of 5-6 frames and place into plastic negative carrier in binder. Make notes on your film logs to identify which log goes with which negative.
  17. When reel is dry, return to cabinet above sink.