How to Develop Film Darkroom Style ~ Enhance Photography Skill

Developing 35mm film plays a detrimental part in the amateur black and white photographer's experience. It takes some practice in lit conditions to master the techniques that are necessary to complete the task in a darkroom. Once the feel for the development process is in place, though, it becomes second nature in the darkroom conditions.

Instructions

Prepare film developer, fixer and stop bath according to their package directions. These are the film developing chemicals. Mix each chemical in a separate jar, and then label each jar accordingly.

Place each developing chemical in a 35mm film developing tank. Fill one tank with developer, one with fixer and one with stop bath.

Adjust the chemicals' temperature. Warm the developer in hot water to 68 degrees F. The stop bath and fixer should be 65 to 75 degrees F. Use separate thermometers for each chemical.

Remove the film from its cartridge and paper backing in complete darkness. Start by using a bottle cap opener to pop off the cap of the film cartridge. Unroll the negative film strip from the cartridge's center post; detach it from the cartridge by cutting the end of the film. Remove the paper backing from the film strip. Handle the film by only its edges.

Prepare the film for development. While still in complete darkness, roll the film onto a 35mm negative processing reel by sliding it into the grooves and pushing it completely through until the entire roll of film is on the reel. Put the reel into the tank containing the film developer, tightly close the tank's lid and set the darkroom timer for the amount specified in the developer's or film's instructions.

Develop the film. Turn on the room's lights. Tap the developer tank against a counter or other object remove air bubbles. After 30 seconds, agitate the developer by rolling the tank in a circular motion in the air for about five seconds. Then let the tank sit for 30 seconds. Repeat this process according to the developer/film instructions. When the time is up, pour the developer back into the developer's jar.

Halt the development process. Pour the stop bath solution through the opening in the top of the developer tank. Agitate the tank carefully for about 30 seconds, and then pour the stop bath back into the stop bath's jar.

Apply the fixer solution. Add the fixer to the developer tank and agitate the tank for about five seconds at 30-second intervals. Continue this process in accordance with the developer/film instructions, and then pour the fixer back into its jar.

Rinse the chemicals off the film negatives. Remove the film from the processing tank and run the reel with the film still on it under a stream of 65- to 75-degree F water for about 1/2 hour.

Hang the film negatives strip to dry. Remove the film from the reel, wipe both sides of the film with a viscose sponge and then hang the film with clothespins on each end on a suspended, thin rope to dry. Attach one end of the film to the rope with a clothespin, and attach another clothespin to the bottom of the film. The bottom clothespin acts as weight to keep the film fairly straight.