First time developing B/W ?

tomfrh · Feb 9, 2016

I'd like to try developing, and also wet printing, black and white film.

For developing, I intend to follow this guide:

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/webfiles/200629163442455.pdf

Any other tips?

Tom

Hatchetman · Feb 9, 2016

That is what I used my first time and continue to use several years later. It works! Suggest you wait a day or two until APUG is fully back up and running and search for similar threads. There must be at least of dozen of them.

Practice loading your reels with a waste roll of film until you can do it in the dark without problems. You don't want to learn that on the first roll you want to develop.

toro_mike · Feb 9, 2016

That's a great guide to start with. The major thing I would add is to read it over thoroughly and stick to the processes and temperatures. Problems arise when variables are introduced.

Like Hatchetman suggested, sacrifice a roll of the film or films you intend to load and practice, practice, practice loading them into the reels/tanks until it's easy!

MattKing · Feb 9, 2016

Here is another, similar link that Kodak released when they still made papers: http://wwwtr.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/aj3/aj3.pdf

Kevin Caulfield · Feb 9, 2016

Welcome Tom from Melbourne. As others have said, keep it simple first and get your processes consistent, then you can play around.

rpavich · Feb 10, 2016

I might also check out the "massive dev" app. (or free online) There is a large database of development times and such. It makes developing easy.
There are also LOTS of videos on youtube about it..I'd watch a few to get familiar with what you are going to do.

What tank and reels are you planning on using?

rowghani · Feb 10, 2016

tomfrh said:
I'd like to try developing, and also wet printing, black and white film.

For developing, I intend to follow this guide:

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/webfiles/200629163442455.pdf

Any other tips?

Tom

Great choice. You will be astonished at how easy it is......the toughest part for me was getting the film on to the reels but now can do it with my eyes closes (joke)........I follow the instructions that are on the Ilford site and of course follow what ever instructions you can the best you can but Black and White is forgiving so just jump into the fire. Best of luck.

tomfrh · Feb 10, 2016

rpavich said:
What tank and reels are you planning on using?

I bought an enlarger kit, which included Paterson supersystem 4 universal tank/reel.

emjo · Feb 11, 2016

rowghani said:
the toughest part for me was getting the film on to the reels but now can do it with my eyes closed (joke).....

Haha, that really made me smile

To the OP: While it may seem like a fun thing to do, try staying away from using a multitude of film/developers/papers. Stick to one of each until you have found your way with it. For me that means Fomapan 100 film, HC-110 developer 1:60 but I am still trying out papers (I really shouldn't...).

rowghani · Feb 11, 2016

emjo said:
Haha, that really made me smile

To the OP: While it may seem like a fun thing to do, try staying away from using a multitude of film/developers/papers. Stick to one of each until you have found your way with it. For me that means Fomapan 100 film, HC-110 developer 1:60 but I am still trying out papers (I really shouldn't...).

;-)

goros · Feb 12, 2016

rowghani said:
.the toughest part for me was getting the film on to the reels but now can do it with my eyes closes (joke).

It is funny, but when I am loading the reel I do it with my eyes closed. It helps me to concentrate.

Molli · Feb 12, 2016

goros said:
It is funny, but when I am loading the reel I do it with my eyes closed. It helps me to concentrate.

I load reels with my eyes closed because I'm incredibly lazy. Why go to the effort of keeping them open when there's nothing to see! The trick is to remember that, although it's dark behind your eyelids, that doesn't guarantee the room is dark also - best to check that occasionally!

By the way, (there was a url link here which no longer exists), a belated welcome from Victoria. Developing film is very easy - to the point where, the first time I did it I assumed I'd done something wrong because it was so lacking in complications. I thought I must have missed a half dozen steps or something! Just go for it. I used either that Ilford publication or the Kodak one (it's been a while, I forget) and I've been using the same procedure ever since.

MattKing · Feb 12, 2016

A while back, for fun, I did an informal poll of people in my darkroom group. I asked how many loaded reels with their eyes open and how many had their eyes closed. The results were approximately an even split.

I expect that it has something to do with how we all learned and whether that learning process included practice with eyes closed.

Gerald C Koch · Feb 17, 2016

rpavich said:
I might also check out the "massive dev" app. (or free online) There is a large database of development times and such.

Unfortunately this data base often has inaccurate and conflicting information. They really need to set up some review process. When possible stick with the film manufacture's information.

Sirius Glass · Feb 17, 2016

Gerald C Koch said:
Unfortunately this data base often has inaccurate and conflicting information. They really need to set up some review process. When possible stick with the film manufacture's information.

When possible stick with the film manufacture's information.

First time developing B/W ?

tomfrh

Hatchetman

toro_mike

MattKing

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Kevin Caulfield

rpavich

rowghani

tomfrh

emjo

rowghani

goros

Molli

MattKing

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Gerald C Koch

Sirius Glass

First time developing B/W ?

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