Processing Black & White Film
In this lesson we worked as a group to process the 35mm black and white film we had used to shoot objects in the studio in a previous lesson. We began by gathering all the equipment we would need and making sure it was all at hand. We also cut the exposed part of the film in order to make it easier to load onto the spiral. All the lights, including the safelight, were then switched off, and I began breaking the film out off its container. Once I had removed the film, I loaded it onto a spiral in the dark, placed the spiral on a spindle, and placed the spindle/centre column into a developing tank. I then put a lid on the developing tank, making sure to lock it in place. The lights were then turned on, as once a developing tank is closed it is light tight.
Two of my classmates then mixed the film developer using a measuring cylinder. The solution was made up of 200ml of developer and 200ml of warm water, and read 21 degrees centigrade when tested with a thermometer. We then poured the developer into the developing tank. As soon as all of the developer was in the tank, I agitated the tank for ten seconds and then tapped it onto the bench in order to remove any air bubbles. This action was repeated at the start of every minute for thirteen minutes.
Next one of my classmates tipped the developer away. While he was doing this, I prepared the stop bath, by pouring 400ml of the solution into a measuring cylinder, and making sure the solution was 21 degrees centigrade. Another classmate then poured the stop bath into the developing tank. After one minute, I tipped away the stop bath, while one of my classmates prepared the fixer. The fixer solution used measured 400ml and was 21 degrees centigrade. My classmate poured the fixer into the developing tank and then agitated it for ten seconds at the start of every minute for five minutes.
We then removed the lid, and leaving the film in the tank, washed it in running water for twenty minutes. The film was then attached to a clip, pulled off the spiral and hung up to dry. Once the film had dried, our lecturer cut it into strips of six and seven negatives, which he stored in filing sheets designed especially for negatives.
Image of a developing tank and its components