The process of photo developing involves getting the pictures taken on a 35mm camera and creating prints.
Photo developing is a process in which film is processed, and the images taken become visible. Photo developing comes in two parts: first the processing of the roll of film to get the negative, and then getting the image onto photographic paper. Photo developing requires the use of many different chemicals and special paper that reacts to both light and chemistry.
35 mm Film
Before digital photography, photographs were taken on film; the most common type of film most people used was 35 mm. When a photograph is taken, light is exposed to a panel of film, creating the exposure. Unlike digital photography, the number of images that could be taken depended on the number of exposures the film allowed. Once a roll of film is completed, the film is taken to be processed.
Film Processing: Getting the Film out of the Camera
For processing, the film must be taken out of its lightproof casing and rolled onto a special wheel. This process is done in total darkness.
Processing a roll of film requires immersing the film into special chemicals. All film is coated with a fine layer of silver, during processing the silver layer is washed off, revealing the negative of the image. In order to get the film to the chemicals, it first needs to be removed from the casing. Film is incredibly sensitive to light, as the light is what creates the pictures, and any amount of light that hits the film once it's out of its casing will ruin the whole roll. When the film is removed from its case, it is done in total darkness. The film is then rolled onto a special reel that keeps the film from touching during the developing process; once again, this is done in total darkness. After the film is rolled up onto the reel, everything is placed into a snug-fitting, lightproof tub called the developer tank.
Film Processing: Developing the Film
Once the film is in the developer tank, it is ready for the application of chemicals; the lights can be turned on at this point. The developer tank has an opening in the top for liquid to be poured in without letting in light. The first chemical used is developer; this chemical removes the silver from the film and exposes the image. The film stays in the developer five to six minutes before being drained; it is very important that the developer is NOT poured into a sink but into a separate container. The next chemical is the stop bath, and it works by stopping the developing process. The stop bath is only used for a few seconds before it is poured back into its original container. The last chemical is the fixer, and it sets the images on the negatives; the film stays in the fixer for 10 minutes. After the fixer, the film needs to be rinsed thoroughly in water to remove all traces of the chemicals. After the film is developed, it needs to go through a drying cycle before the film can be used.
Film Processing: Making Prints
To create prints, photo paper is exposed with light shining through the negative. The paper is then put into a series of baths to develop.
Creating prints is the final process of film processing; they are the final outcome of the work that was done developing the film. Prints are created by shining light through the negative onto special photo paper. In order to bring the light, negative and paper together, a device called an enlarger is required. The film is placed into a flat round disk, with an opening the exact size of the film panel. It is then placed into the enlarger. A light source at the top of the enlarger shines through the film and onto the paper. Photo paper is special paper that has been treated with a light reacting material that also contains a fine coating of silver. When creating black and white prints, the photo paper can be exposed to red light, but creating color prints require working in total darkness. The paper is placed at the base of the enlarger, light shines through the film for a short period of time to create the exposure onto the paper. The developing process for paper is very similar to film. The paper spends some time in the developer, in which the image appears, the stop bath to stop the process, fixer and then the water bath.
Commercial Film Developing
Since very few people have access to darkrooms and the know-process their own film, over 90 percent of film is processed in a photo lab. The process of developing the film is the same as if it was in a darkroom, but it takes place entirely in a machine that is designed to process film and create prints. The benefits of taking film to a photo lab include the ease and convenience of having pictures processed quickly. However, there is no fine attention to the detail of each individual image.
Digital Photo Developing
Some people think that just because digital photography doesn't use traditional film, the only way to get images from a digital camera is through a printer. However, professional photo labs have modified equipment that take the digital image and have it exposed onto photo paper the same way film was exposed, then the paper is developed using the same chemicals. Having a photo printed on a printer, even a photo printer, the image is broken down to ink dots. The quality of the printer dictates the saturation of dots on the paper. Using real photo developing techniques, the image is shined onto the light-sensitive paper and there is no worrying about dpi (dots per inch); the image that is exposed to the paper is the image that is developed. Another benefit to digital photo processing is the ability to fine-tune each image within photo editing software. This allows for finer control on the part of the photographer but the ease of professional photo processing.
Tags: developing process, total darkness, developer tank, digital photography, done total, done total darkness, Film Processing
