University of the Ozarks
ART 2003
Photography
Darkroom Procedures:
Developing Film
How to load film
Film Development
Sample Development Times for Tri-X and T-MAX
Materials needed:
Film to be developed, scissors, developing tank and reel (plastic or steel) and film canister opener.
This process is to be done in complete darkness (no red safelights) so make sure your area is stocked and organized so that you are not fumbling around.
1. Turn off all lights and have dry hands. Move to your workstation.
2. Use the film canister opener to remove the bottom ring of the film canister. Slide the bottom of the canister into the device and push up and to the left to break off the bottom ring.
3. Carefully pull out the film, it will be wound around a spool. Touch only the outside or shiny side of the film. Make a perpendicular cut with the scissors to remove the notched area.
4. Slide the film into the (plastic) reel; push the film past the entrance area.
5. Once the film is in place, ratchet the reel to load the film. Make sure not to touch the emulsion (non-shiny) side.
6. Wind until you are almost to the end of the roll. At the end of the film roll, the film will be taped to the spool. Cut the film off the spool where the tape is attached. Wind the rest of the film onto the reel.
7. Place the reel onto the center rod then into the plastic tank. Place the cover onto the tank and tighten. You may want to turn the tank over to see if your lid is secure. You may turn on the lights now.
Load your film onto a reel in complete darkness and put it into a tank. Make sure the lid fits tightly.
1. Pour out 10 fluid oz. Of D-76 film developer for a single reel tank. For a two-reel tank double the amount. The temperatures of all the chemicals are to be consistently the same throughout the process. (Though the process can be done anywhere between 65E F and 75E F). We will be developing at 68E F for this semester, so get your developer to this temperature and the water running at 68E F. The time will vary based on what type of film you are developing.
Sample Development Times:
Tri-X 400 – 6 min 45 sec
T-Max 400 – 8 min.
2. Pour your developer quickly into your tank (if you hold it at an angle, it will fill quicker). When it is filled tap your tank on the sink corner to dislodge air bubbles that may be settled on your film. Put the lid onto the tank. Then quickly set the timer. Start agitating for the first 15 seconds, then after a 25 second rest agitate for 5 seconds. Continue this 5 second agitation every 25 second rest for the remainder of the time.
3. At the end of the time (actually during the last 10 seconds of development) drain your tank into the sink. Then rinse your film by filling it with 68E F water, agitating it about 5 times. Drain, fill again, agitate and drain again. Repeat agitation once more and drain.
4. Then pour 10 oz. 68E F fixer (temperature is not as crucial for the rest of the process but should not exceed 65E F and 75E F. Try to be consistent though) into your tank straight from the bottle marked Film Fix. Tap again on the sink corner to dislodge air bubbles and set the timer for 3 minutes. The agitation is the same as for the developer. When 3 minutes are up, return the fixer to the Film Fix bottle. Fixer is reusable, DO NOT pour it into the wrong bottle. Then rinse your film the same way as before.
5. Next pour 10 oz. Orbit Bath into your tank from the bottle marked Orbit Bath. (This is already mixed into a working solution.) Agitate continuously for 30 seconds. Return the Orbit Bath into the bottle marked Orbit Bath to be reused.
OR
Next pour 10 oz. Hypo Cleaning Agent into your tank from the bottle marked Hypo Clear. (This is already mixed into a working solution.) Tap your tank again and set your timer for 4 minutes. Agitate the same as before. After 4 minutes drain you tank back into the Hypo Clear bottle to be reused again.
6. Now take the lid off of your tank and set the tank under running water (68E F if possible) for at least 10 minutes. Shake or empty the tank every minute or two to dislodge air bubbles.
7. After the wash, fill the tank with a capful of Photo Flo, place the lid on the tank (make sure the lid is rinsed) and agitate for 1 minute. Return the Photo Flo to the bottle marked Photo Flo. Remove the film from the reel. Hang it up immediately in the drying closet. DO NOT rinse, wipe or do anything to the delicate emulsion (dull side) of your film. Attach a film clip or clothes pin to the top and hang off the wire. Attach a film clip or clothespin to the bottom also to prevent any curling of the film. Try not to drip water on other people’s negatives, as it may cause water spots.
8. In 1 hour check to see if your film is dry (both sides). The drying time will vary based on humidity and temperature in the darkroom. When the film is dry cut and put your negatives into negative sleeves to protect them from injury that can easily happen from fingerprints and accidental water splashes. You are then ready to make a contact sheet and subsequent prints.