B&W Review after Developing

Darryl Roberts · Nov 30, 2021

Hi,

Finally, I've decided to develop my own film. Currently, I have no room for a full darkroom setup or even an enlarger.

I can develop in a daylight tank, leaning toward Stearman Press' SP-810, but may go with the more expensive Jobo 3006.

Once developed is there a way to view the film negative in a positive state without scanning it? I want to be able to pick certain shots to be drum scanned by a third-party.

btaylor · Nov 30, 2021

You can backlight the negative shoot it with your phone and invert the image.

osella · Nov 30, 2021

btaylor said:
You can backlight the negative shoot it with your phone and invert the image.

I use this to proof all my 8x10 negatives, if I need more detail on a certain area I’ll check it with a loupe.

Donald Qualls · Nov 30, 2021

btaylor said:
You can backlight the negative shoot it with your phone and invert the image.

Another partially usable method is to hold the film in front of a black background and front light it, so the scattering from the silver is brighter than what's behind. This is inferior for well-exposed negatives of correct contrast, but will at least let you tell between the shots of Aunt Hazel and those of Grandma (when they were both dressed up as witches for the Halloween party).

DMJ · Nov 30, 2021

FilmLab for Android (I don't know if there is an iOS version) gives you a live inverted image.

Sirius Glass · Nov 30, 2021

I use a light table. I picked up an 8"x10" light table for not a lot of money.

Craig75 · Nov 30, 2021

You should be able to get a good idea of what will make a good image just by holding up the negative tbh.

Failing that you can just contact print it with a lightbulb and develop the paper in the stearman tank.

kevs · Dec 1, 2021

Photograph the neg on a phone or digicam; you might be able to invert the tones in an app or something.

Or upload to a computer and use imaging software (PhotoShop, GIMP etc.) to invert the colours. In GIMP, go Menu --> Colours -->Invert.

If you need a purely analogue method, you could make cyanotypes as proofs. You don't need a darkroom for to make them.

drmoss_ca · Dec 3, 2021

You don't even need an app on an iPhone or iPad to invert the screen, and it can be set up be as simple to switch on or off as a triple press of the home or side button. See:
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-invert-colors-on-iphone-4154078

However, I don't think this will really be good enough for you tell whether a negative is drum-scan worthy - I assume you are paying for them, and it will hurt to get it wrong. A flatbed scanner that can handle 10x8 will give you a far better idea of whether to spend that much money or not.

B&W Review after Developing

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