B&W film developing

[pantelis adiavastos]

and also mark chemicals with dangerous... ;p working in a home environment you wouldnt want your mum drinking fixer for water

 

[Craig Swensson]

and also mark chemicals with dangerous... ;p working in a home environment you wouldnt want your mum drinking fixer for water

or your mother in law drinking developer

 

[jamesgignac]

i will use him to help me in developing and he is smart enough so he may develop my film in the future for me without i go to do it myself].

I'm sorry but I absolutely love that line

Best of luck - you've certainly come to a very friendly and helpful place!

 

[TareqPhoto]

and also mark chemicals with dangerous... ;p working in a home environment you wouldnt want your mum drinking fixer for water

No problem, if she will do, i will force her to drink a developer to balance the solution inside her stomach, lol
Can't i use a wash to stop fixer process in her stomach then

 

[TareqPhoto]

or your mother in law drinking developer

I will send her to the lab to fix her, or hospital to "Scan" her and see if the results will be ok lol

 

[TareqPhoto]

I'm sorry but I absolutely love that line

Best of luck - you've certainly come to a very friendly and helpful place!

OK, thanks!
I hope i can start as soon as possible as i am stuck now to order some chemicals and stuff to start developing, not in rush really but i have time to choose and use the stuff and read more, i will try to minimize my mistakes eve before i start, and with all of your help i will have a fun.

 

[TareqPhoto]

Finally after long long waiting, i've got all the chemicals i want to develop B&W film, the hard part is to choose which one to start with but i will see what i will choose, now the last thing i need to do is to find a container that is up to 1G or 2G to mix chemicals of powders, I have one container but not measuring one, so i will check for the last time in my area if i can find any measuring container that i can use to mix chemicals to make up to 2 Gallons, i have one powder to make 1 US Gallon and another chemical to make 5L, i have small 1L containers but first i need to mix entire chemical solution then later i can store on those smaller tanks/containers.

I can't wait to start my development, i may wait until we can move to new house or until i get that large measuring container for gallons.

Wish me a good luck!!!

 

[Rick A]

Finally after long long waiting, i've got all the chemicals i want to develop B&W film, the hard part is to choose which one to start with but i will see what i will choose, now the last thing i need to do is to find a container that is up to 1G or 2G to mix chemicals of powders, I have one container but not measuring one, so i will check for the last time in my area if i can find any measuring container that i can use to mix chemicals to make up to 2 Gallons, i have one powder to make 1 US Gallon and another chemical to make 5L, i have small 1L containers but first i need to mix entire chemical solution then later i can store on those smaller tanks/containers.

I can't wait to start my development, i may wait until we can move to new house or until i get that large measuring container for gallons.

Wish me a good luck!!!

Buy two 1 gallon plastic pitchers, one for mixing developer only(and mark it) the other for every thing else and three or four [4 cup] measuring cups that are marked in both ounces and metric from your local housewares store. Also get a one cup measure and a couple of smaller medicine dosing cups. It doesn't hurt to have a couple of medicine dosing syringes that come with bottle stoppers for measuring really small amounts.

 

[TareqPhoto]

Buy a two gallon plastic pitchers, one for mixing developer only(and mark it) the other for every thing else and three or four [4 cup] measuring cups that are marked in both ounces and metric from your local housewares store. Also get a one cup measure and a couple of smaller medicine dosing cups. It doesn't hurt to have a couple of medicine dosing syringes that come with bottle stoppers for measuring really small amounts.

Where i can buy that two gallon plastic pitchers?

I have many measuring cups that are 2L and less, i just got last order today which including few chemicals and measuring cups from 30ml up to 600ml, and one box i didn't open yet which including different measuring cylinders and 2 beakers bought from local dealer, yesterday i got an order by FedEx and it including 1G brown storage bottle.
I found 2 measuring cups online that are for 1 gallon, but if i will order it it will take long time to come to me as i will order something else as well and not just only those containers/measuring cups, and i am in tight budget now and i have to wait until beginning of next month, so it means i may wait another 3 weeks or so to get those 1G cups and start developing.

 

[tkamiya]

I bought a large plastic container at a local grocery store. I *think* these are typically used for orange juice, etc, but it's just a large plastic container with a lid on it. It didn't have any measurement markings on it, so I used smaller measuring cups and a permanent marker to put 1 liter, 2 liter, 3 liter, 1 gallon, 4 liter, and 5 liter marks. If you look around your house, you might already have something usable for this purpose.

Just be sure to mark it so once used for chemicals, it won't be used for food.

 

[TareqPhoto]

I bought a large plastic container at a local grocery store. I *think* these are typically used for orange juice, etc, but it's just a large plastic container with a lid on it. It didn't have any measurement markings on it, so I used smaller measuring cups and a permanent marker to put 1 liter, 2 liter, 3 liter, 1 gallon, 4 liter, and 5 liter marks. If you look around your house, you might already have something usable for this purpose.

Just be sure to mark it so once used for chemicals, it won't be used for food.

I think if i am not mistaken i saw 1 or 2 of those plastic containers but in 1 Gallon volume in our house, they are of cleaning and washing solutions which are not for drink or food at all as well, and i think i need to wash or clean it if i will use it for chemicals as i am not sure the remaining solutions will have any affect on the chemicals used with it, i may use one of them for storage as well, but i like the idea of marking them, it is a great idea to see the level of liquid but they are not transparency anyway unless i put against the light [strong enough] and see the level if the liquid inside is not white[that if this plastic container is not in dark color].

 

[TareqPhoto]

Finally i did develop 3 rolls while i am taking a workshop in my country, was very nice and not so complicated as i thought, but i would like to ask, when we were doing developing the instructor told us to do it under red safelight, is that necessary? I understand why to use that when we did printing, but developing is as same as printing while the film is in the tank?
Also i am not sure if i should go with Gralab timer or you recommend me something else? I want to order some stuff and i want to include timer with it if i will buy one, so which one i should go with?

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Film should be developed in complete darkness.

Except for with one type of film: Orthochromatic. That's a fancy word for a type of film that is not sensitive to red light.

99% of all black and white film is Panchromatic, (which is a fancy word for film that is sensitive to the entire spectrum of light, including red, and as a result of that, a red safelight would ruin the film).

- Thomas

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

You'll have a lot of fun! Please don't dump any used fixer down the drain because it's bad for the environment. Dispose of it properly. Here's a link on how to do it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Developing-Black--White-Photos-at-Home/

 

[TareqPhoto]

Film should be developed in complete darkness.

Except for with one type of film: Orthochromatic. That's a fancy word for a type of film that is not sensitive to red light.

99% of all black and white film is Panchromatic, (which is a fancy word for film that is sensitive to the entire spectrum of light, including red, and as a result of that, a red safelight would ruin the film).

- Thomas

We developed B&W in that workshop under red safelight, the instructor said it is because of the chemicals not the film, because we load the film in the tank under fully dark room, but when using chemicals we just turn on the safelight, but can't we turn the room light? I didn't say we have to load and develop the film uncovered shown under any light, once the film is in the tank and locked it is away from the light, or do you mean it is still not safe?

 

[TareqPhoto]

You'll have a lot of fun! Please don't dump any used fixer down the drain because it's bad for the environment. Dispose of it properly. Here's a link on how to do it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Developing-Black--White-Photos-at-Home/

Oh really?!!! i was asking few people in the field in my area, all seems told me to dump it down the drain, the amount of silver is very tiny and don't have that big issue.
I have a hypo checker to check the validity of the fixer, in all cases i will not use it many times, i have enough amount and i can buy more later if i want, also i may decide to develop just few film and send the most to the lab, i don't have time to develop over 50 rolls within 1-2 months, and also it started to be very hot here so no much shooting and i will be busy for our holy month and then busy to arrange for my trip, so all these will make me busy away from developing a lot of films, also i am still taking that workshop which we have only 2 Saturday remain and there i can develop something if i want and print, don't shoot much with B&W as well, color is there as well.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

OK. I understand now.

Here's the important part: The film must be developed in complete darkness.

If the film is in a daylight film developing tank, it is in complete darkness, and the room lights may be switched on.

- Thomas

We developed B&W in that workshop under red safelight, the instructor said it is because of the chemicals not the film, because we load the film in the tank under fully dark room, but when using chemicals we just turn on the safelight, but can't we turn the room light? I didn't say we have to load and develop the film uncovered shown under any light, once the film is in the tank and locked it is away from the light, or do you mean it is still not safe?

 

[Rick A]

Happy to hear from you. How do you feel now that you have finally processes some film, pretty good, yeah. Please do not dump fixer down the drain. Its alright to dump all the other chemicals in the drain, fix contains silver.

Once you have the film loaded into the tank and the lid on, you can do all of the processing in daylight, or room light, no need for safelight. I (and nearly everyone else) do it in normal light, maybe we are doing it wrong.

 

[TareqPhoto]

OK, i will develop more film later and i will start to do it at home, always getting busy to start at home.

 

[TareqPhoto]

Hey all, finally i would like to say, thank you very very much for all of your help.
Just today i started to develop my B&W film at home, i did 3 rolls, too bad that 1 of them came out nothing or bad, and the other 2 came out fine [not sure until i scan or print], I am so happy i did it at home even i did develop before at workshop i attended, but nothing like when i do it alone myself without someone else with me around.
Honestly for first roll i developed [which was also my first ever B&W film i shoot] i did many mistakes, so even it went bad i will not feel bad as i expect i will ruin it or it is ruined already before i develop., also it was a nightmare to load the roll into the reel, i spent about 1 hour and so to load it for the first roll, and then took something between 5-15 minutes for the others, the first one i tried first with Paterson reel, gave up and then tried Jobo one, gave up again and last i tried the stainless steel one and it worked but seems i corrupted so far, also because i was so mad and disappointed i put a water in Jobo tank and then put it in the changing bag [while the film is closed on Paterson tank without reel, and took out the film in the changing back to wash the roll, as when i tried to load it was stuck and not going through so i thought it was like adhesive or not dry or so], i learnt but seeing the other two coming out nicely i forgot all my mistakes, even those two came out were the shots i was looking for, I have one roll remain but i don't know if the fixer is enough.

 

[markbarendt]

Congrats! Learning is fun.

 

[TareqPhoto]

Congrats! Learning is fun.

Thank you!
Yes, it is.

 

[Rick A]

Hey all, finally i would like to say, thank you very very much for all of your help.
Just today i started to develop my B&W film at home, i did 3 rolls, too bad that 1 of them came out nothing or bad, and the other 2 came out fine [not sure until i scan or print], I am so happy i did it at home even i did develop before at workshop i attended, but nothing like when i do it alone myself without someone else with me around.
Honestly for first roll i developed [which was also my first ever B&W film i shoot] i did many mistakes, so even it went bad i will not feel bad as i expect i will ruin it or it is ruined already before i develop., also it was a nightmare to load the roll into the reel, i spent about 1 hour and so to load it for the first roll, and then took something between 5-15 minutes for the others, the first one i tried first with Paterson reel, gave up and then tried Jobo one, gave up again and last i tried the stainless steel one and it worked but seems i corrupted so far, also because i was so mad and disappointed i put a water in Jobo tank and then put it in the changing bag [while the film is closed on Paterson tank without reel, and took out the film in the changing back to wash the roll, as when i tried to load it was stuck and not going through so i thought it was like adhesive or not dry or so], i learnt but seeing the other two coming out nicely i forgot all my mistakes, even those two came out were the shots i was looking for, I have one roll remain but i don't know if the fixer is enough.

Congrats on getting some film developed on your own. Now you can really start learning about film, and how to control it with development. Make sure you keep notes of your exposures, and how you develope , to compare. Loading the reels gets easier with practice.

Your fixer is reusable, dont use it one-shot. It should last you several films, just return it to a bottle marked "fix/film" . If you are printing as well, then you will need another bottle marked "fix/paper" and do not confuse them. Developer is one-shot, stop is reusable, fix is reusable, HCA is reusable, and photoflo is reusable.

 

[alexhill]

Hey all, finally i would like to say, thank you very very much for all of your help.
Just today i started to develop my B&W film at home, i did 3 rolls, too bad that 1 of them came out nothing or bad, and the other 2 came out fine [not sure until i scan or print], I am so happy i did it at home even i did develop before at workshop i attended, but nothing like when i do it alone myself without someone else with me around.
Honestly for first roll i developed [which was also my first ever B&W film i shoot] i did many mistakes, so even it went bad i will not feel bad as i expect i will ruin it or it is ruined already before i develop., also it was a nightmare to load the roll into the reel, i spent about 1 hour and so to load it for the first roll, and then took something between 5-15 minutes for the others, the first one i tried first with Paterson reel, gave up and then tried Jobo one, gave up again and last i tried the stainless steel one and it worked but seems i corrupted so far, also because i was so mad and disappointed i put a water in Jobo tank and then put it in the changing bag [while the film is closed on Paterson tank without reel, and took out the film in the changing back to wash the roll, as when i tried to load it was stuck and not going through so i thought it was like adhesive or not dry or so], i learnt but seeing the other two coming out nicely i forgot all my mistakes, even those two came out were the shots i was looking for, I have one roll remain but i don't know if the fixer is enough.

Congratulations! I'm glad you got 2 outa 3. When I started in high school, my first couple rolls were crap and unusable. Nothing makes you want to give up like total failure!

Keep it up, and perhaps you can convince the rest of the photo club to try out developing film

 

[TareqPhoto]

Congrats on getting some film developed on your own. Now you can really start learning about film, and how to control it with development. Make sure you keep notes of your exposures, and how you develope , to compare. Loading the reels gets easier with practice.

Your fixer is reusable, dont use it one-shot. It should last you several films, just return it to a bottle marked "fix/film" . If you are printing as well, then you will need another bottle marked "fix/paper" and do not confuse them. Developer is one-shot, stop is reusable, fix is reusable, HCA is reusable, and photoflo is reusable.

Thank you very much, Rick!
Now how can i know that the fixer or stop bath or another chemicals are reusable? how did you say that developer is one shot and the other are reusable?
I do printing only at that workshop i'm taken[it is today as well but because i was tired and took long time in early morning to develop those 3 rolls i couldn't go out and drive , so i missed it today and not sure what they did take today], still i have time for printing as i need to get a good enlarger.

If i will use that larger tank to take 2-120 rolls at once, what is the amount i need to use with it?