Here’s a list of equipment required for developing black and white film, along with brief descriptions of each item:
Equipment Required for Black and White Film Developing
- Measuring Cup (at least 500ml)
- Used to measure the precise amount of chemicals (developer, stop bath, and fixer) needed for the development process. Make sure it’s a dedicated cup for darkroom use, preferably with clear measurement markings.
- 3 x 500ml Bottles (Dark or Opaque)
- To store the mixed chemicals (developer, stop bath, and fixer). Dark or opaque bottles are essential to prevent exposure to light, which could degrade the chemicals over time.
- Darkroom Bag (Changing Bag)
- A lightproof bag used to load film onto a reel without exposing it to any light. It’s a portable alternative to a completely dark room and is essential for film handling.
- Thermometer for Liquids
- Used to ensure the developer and other chemicals are at the correct temperature (typically 20°C for most black and white films). A thermometer with a range suitable for photographic chemistry is ideal.
- Developing Tank
- A light-tight container that holds the film during the chemical development process. It includes reels for loading the film and allows you to safely pour chemicals in and out without exposing the film to light.
- Bottle/Film Opener
- A tool (often just a standard bottle opener) used to open the film canister to retrieve the film in complete darkness.
- Scissors
- Used to cut the film from the spool and trim the edges for loading onto the reel. They should be kept in the darkroom bag and only used when loading the film.
- Darkroom Clock (i.e. Phone App – get it for iPhone here)
- A timer app specifically designed for film development. It should have customizable intervals and alarms for different stages (development, stop bath, and fixing).
- Towel
- Used to dry your hands before handling the film or chemicals, to prevent water spots, and to clean up any spills.
Additional Recommended Items:
- Film Clips or Clothespins: For hanging the film to dry.
- Squeegee or Film Wiper: To remove excess water after rinsing (optional, but can help prevent water spots).
- Wetting Agent: Reduces water spots on the film during drying.
- Chemical Stirring Rod: For mixing chemicals evenly.
Having all of these items ready and set up before starting the process will make film development smoother and more efficient.
Equipment one-off cost to start developing black and white films is around £90 (when new, but you can get it all for next to nothing on the facebook marketplace). Just get it as a package here, add this and this, and you have all you need.
Chemistry required (around £80 overall cost to process up to 30 films):
- De-ionised water (available in most motoring shops, local garages, etc)
- Developer – available, i.e. in Wex – link
- Stop bath – available, i.e. in Wex – link (but to lower the cost, you can use a mix of de-ionised water with 3-4 spoons of white vinegar)
- Fixer – available i.e. in Wex – link
- Final rinse – available i.e. in Wex – link (but to lower the cost, you can use a mix of water with a few drops of washing liquid you already have in your kitchen)
Each prepared chemicals can be used to develop 4-6 films.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to developing black and white film using Kentmere 400, following your outlined process:
1. Prepare Chemistry
- Carefully prepare the developer, stop bath, and fixer according to the instructions provided on the inside of the Kentmere 400 film packaging.
- Measure out the exact amounts required for each chemical and mix them with water as indicated.
- Ensure the developer is mixed to a working solution at a temperature of 20°C (68°F), as this is the optimal temperature for processing.
2. Temperature Check
- Double-check that the developer’s temperature is exactly 20°C. Use a thermometer to confirm this.
- If the temperature is too high, cool it down by placing the container in a bath of cool water. If it’s too low, use warm water to bring it up to the correct temperature.
3. Set the Timer
- Open the Darkroom Clock app (or use a similar timer app designed for film development).
- Set the timer according to the recommended development time for Kentmere 400 at 20°C. The exact time will depend on the developer used, but it’s typically around 9-11 minutes for common developers like Ilford DD-X.
4. Load Film into the Developing Tank
- Take your film roll and the developing tank into a dark bag (also known as a changing bag) or a completely dark room with no light leaks.
- In complete darkness, carefully open the film canister and load the film onto the reel, making sure to avoid any light exposure.
- Place the reel inside the developing tank and securely close the lid to ensure it’s light-tight.
5. Start Development
- Start the timer on your app.
- Immediately pour the developer into the developing tank and begin gentle agitation. Follow the specific agitation pattern recommended by your developer (typically, 10 seconds of agitation every minute).
- After the development time is complete, pour out the developer and immediately pour in the stop bath solution to halt development. Agitate gently for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or as instructed.
- Drain the stop bath and then pour in the fixer solution. Agitate as per the fixer instructions (usually 3-5 minutes).
6. Rinse the Film
- After fixing, pour out the fixer and rinse the film with running water from a sink.
- Add a few drops of wetting agent or liquid dish soap to help prevent water spots from forming on the film. Swirl gently for 1-2 minutes.
- Run the water for about 5-10 minutes to ensure thorough washing of the chemicals.
7. Dry the Film
- Carefully remove the film from the developing tank and hang it up in a dust-free environment to dry completely.
- Use film clips or clothespins to secure both ends and allow it to air dry. This can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, depending on the environment (12h is also a good idea)
Final Tip
- Once the film is completely dry, cut it into strips and store it in negative sleeves for protection.
Following these steps carefully should give you well-developed negatives ready for scanning or printing. Enjoy your black and white photography journey!