Getting Started with Developing + Printing My Own B+W Photos. Help please!

[samuelingram]

Hi.

I have a few rolls of B+W film lying round that desperately need to be developed and printed, I'm tired of taking them to high street stores, most of which are attempting to phase film out, and getting average prints from guys who are only trained in completing a procedure rather than interested in perfecting an art and would rather be playing with their Canon 5Ds than messing around with chemicals in the back.

So I thought why not try to develop and print my own photographs, at least I'll know that someone who cares about getting good prints will be working on them. The problem is that I don't really know how to do it.

The good news is that I have a makeshift darkroom (sometimes a laundry room when someone ABSOLUTELY has to wash some clothes) set up already, in which I print cyanotypes, salt prints and argyrotypes using digital negs. I have some developing trays and syringes etc, but that's about it in the way of things that I (think) I'll need for this. I have the space, I just need advice on equipment to put in it and what to do with it.

I found this link on developing. It seems reliable enough.

So is that list of equipment complete, and is the advice good? Is there anything else that I would need on the developing side of things in order to achieve a better result. Or perhaps I could do it more simply. I'm a beginner, obviously but I would really like to make some prints that are nice enough to frame.

The part after that I'm even more fuzzy on. I'd like some advice on how to enlarge my negatives and just basically the steps that go in between developing and getting my photo ready to put on the wall.

I know I could do a google search, and have, but I'd rather get advice off people who practice regularly, care about what they do and have a good dialogue going about their work. If you have any advice then that would be great, or if you could link me to articles that are trustworthy and give good results then that would be good too.

Any help you could give would be great.

Thanks,

Sam.

 

[Rick A]

Its complete enough to get started. Everyone has their own personal list of what they consider a complete set up. I use no less than 6 one liter measuring cups when I develope film, and each has its place in line. Three are for water, and marked H2O, One marked Dev, one for Stop, and one marked FIX. I pre-soak, develope, stop, rinse, fix, then wash. All cups are brought to the same temp using an accurate thermometer to check. After final wash, I use a wetting agent, then hang to dry. I dont use any Hypo clearing agent, dont need it with the fixer I use.

 

[ann]

check out Ilford's website for information on printing.

there are several reliable books on the market; however, imho, it is faster and easier to find either a class with a good insturctor, or someone in your arear who could be a mentor. This means , someone who really knows what they are doing. The learning curve will progress faster with face to face help.

Of course there are lots of folks here on this site who will be more than happy to assist you, but sometimes it is harder to explain long distance than up close and personal

 

[Matthew Rusbarsky]

I just skimmed the article, but a few things were left out. Thermometers are not for "masters of the craft", they are pretty essential. You also need a notebook. Finally, before you develop your first roll, practice loading your tank. Buy a few cheap rolls from the drugstore and leave them next to your couch. Whenever you sit down to watch television, practice loading the reel without looking. Practice

 

[bblhed]

Check out You Tube, there is a 4 part video set on processing film by J Brunner, they will make you giggle, but they really do show the basics of how to do it yourself, and also just how easy it is to do it yourself. I would provide a link, but I can't access You Tube right now.

There was a set of links on Jason's web site.
http://www.jasonbrunner.com/videos.html

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Check out You Tube, there is a 4 part video set on processing film by J Brunner, they will make you giggle, but they really do show the basics of how to do it yourself, and also just how easy it is to do it yourself. I would provide a link, but I can't access You Tube right now.

There was a set of links on Jason's web site.
http://www.jasonbrunner.com/videos.html

There are links to those videos here through APUG's videos section.

As stated above, practice, practice, practice. I still hink a roll up every now and again, but it is easy enough to go back to the point where the load is improper and fix it. Practice, practice, practice. And temperature needs to be spot on so you can repeat your process, which is the key to getting CONSISTENT results.

And good luck. Let us know when you get going and how it goes.

 

[jerl]

I'd also suggest getting a copy of "the print" and "the negative" by Ansel Adams- it's a fairly complete reference and describes everything you might need to know. The only caveat is that since he wrote it, many materials have been improved, so some of his specific advice (particularly as to brands of chemicals and materials) are not necessarily still up to date, but the basic process remains the same as it was for decades.

If you really want to get into it, I'd actually suggest taking a course- there's a lot you can learn from reading books and watching videos, but there's nothing quite like having someone with you showing you things.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I used to suggest AA's books right from the getgo with the caveat that they are heavy reads. I think some awesome beginner books to be Henry Horenstein's 'Black and White Photography - A Basic Manual' and 'Beyond Basic Photography'. There is also David Vestal's 'The Craft of Photography'. There are many others. Not to mention online resources, not the least of all being articles and videos here on APUG.

 

[hpulley]

The Ilford how-to docs on film developing and printing are quite good.

I don't pre-soak my B&W films.

I'm not sure Ilfosol-S is the best developer to start with but I suppose it doesn't really matter that much. I'd probably choose something a little more general purpose as Ilfosol is more meant for slow films. If you shoot fast films or push at all, it won't be ideal.

 

[Swearingbear]

I'm a complete novice who developed my first ever films in my shed late one Saturday night a few weeks ago, and I've learnt a few things already.
1. Its actually really easy once you do it a few times.
2. Winding the film onto the reel in complete darkness is tricky.
3. Ilford has an excellent step-by-step description of film processing available online ('Processing your first B&W film')- I followed it exacty and got good negatives.
4. Dont try to cut and print from the negatives until the are well and truly dry.
5. Darkroom cleanliness is paramount.

My first film is a testament to everything that can be done wrong, but the rest have been great.

 

[dagabel]

2. Winding the film onto the reel in complete darkness is tricky.

And to assist with this, I highly recommend the Freestyle Photo Arista Premium Plastic developing reel (Model# 55043). It has a huge wide flange, and IMO loading both 35mm and 120 film is so much easier with this reel than either stainless steel or the narrower flange type of plastic reel. I have four of these reels that I use in a big Paterson tank.

Duane

 

[George Collier]

If there is a place near you where you can take a course, it could be well worth it, depending on the cost. It will at least walk you through the steps and give you confidence, and you won't have to invest in the equipment to do it.