Develop Your Own Camera Film
Developing your own 35-millimeter film is a way to set yourself apart from other photographers in this digital age. Though home development will rarely save you time or money, it is a practical, hands-on way to learn the intricacies of photography.
Instructions
Getting the Film Out of Its Canister
1. Open the top of the film roll with the bottle opener just as you would a soda bottle. Carefully remove the film, touching only its edges.
2. Snip the narrow leader end off the film with your scissors.
3. Place your right index finger of your right hand on the film to guide it to the center of the reel, then turn the reel to wind the film with your left hand.
4. Place both reels in the developer tank, even if you are developing only one roll of film.
5. Close the lid of the developer tank.
Developing
6. Consult your film's development chart to determine development time and set your timer to the appropriate time.
7. Measure out enough developer so that the tank will fill to the top but not overflow.
8. Open the tank's cap (not the lid itself) and pour in the developer.
9. Start the timer.
10. Agitate the tank immediately for one minute. Rap the tank firmly against a hard surface to shake off any air bubbles that might stick to the film.
11. Agitate the tank for 10 seconds every minute until the developing time is up, rapping the tank against the counter or sink after each round of agitation.
12. Discard the developer once agitation is complete.
The Stop Bath and the Fixer
13. Pour in the recommended amount of stop-bath or water. Start the timer and agitate for 30 seconds.
14. Pour out the stop bath. If you use water, repeat steps one and two.
15. Pour in the fixer, start the clock and agitate for 10 seconds, then agitate once every minute for five minutes.
16. Pour the fixer back into its container, as it can be reused.
Washing and Drying
17.Open the lid of the tank and run water over the film continuously for five to 10 minutes, pouring the water out of the tank every two minutes.
18. Remove the reels from the tank and the film from the reel.
19. Hang your film on a line in a dust-free location to dry. According to Urban Views, the shower is a good choice if you close the curtain. Place a clip on the bottom of the film to prevent curling.
20. Leave the film overnight to fully dry.
Tags: agitate seconds, Agitate tank, Camera Film, Develop Your, Develop Your Camera, developer tank, every minute
