Developing Film:
1.) Load film into the developing tank as shown in the class demonstration. Only load film in the film loading room! The printing darkroom is not dark enough. If you are only developing one roll of film, slide the reel with the roll of film onto the bottom of the black tube and put an empty reel on the top. Don't forget to turn the funnel/lid tightly until it clicks!
2.) Set out your chemicals in separate beakers in this order:
a.) HC-110 film developer
b.) stop bath
c.) fixer
Have the jug of Hypo Clear / Orbit / Perma Wash set out and ready. You can set the jug of Hypo Clear / Orbit / Perma Wash in the sink until needed.
For one (1) roll of film, use 14 ounces of each chemical.
For two (2) rolls of film, use 20 ounces of chemicals.
Processing Steps:
1.) DEVELOPER - Time depends upon your brand of film
Pour the film developer into the tank and start the timer for the brand or type of film that you used. Remember: each brand or type of film has a different amount of development time. The amount of for the remaining chemicals remains constant, but the developer time varies. Agitate the tank with the developer in it constantly for 60 seconds, rapping the tank on the bottom every ten (10) seconds to remove air bubbles. After the first 60 seconds, agitate the developer for ten (10) seconds every time that the timer gets to zero (0) and thirty (30) for the remaining time.
2.) STOP BATH - Time is always 60 seconds
After the appropriate amount of time for your film, pour the developer back into the beaker and fill the tank with stop bath. When the tank is filled, start the timer for one (1) minute. Agitate the tank with the stop bath in it constantly for 60 seconds, rapping the tank on the bottom every ten (10) seconds to remove air bubbles. After the 60 seconds are done, pour the stop bath back into the beaker, fill the tank with fixer and set the timer for seven (7) minutes.
NOTE: T-Max films require TWO beakers of fixer.
3.) FIXER - Time is always 7 minutes EXCEPT for T-Max films which require TWO fixer baths of ten (10) minutes each.
Agitate the tank with the fixer in it constantly for 60 seconds, rapping the tank on the bottom every ten (10) seconds to remove air bubbles. After the first 60 seconds, agitate the developer for ten (10) seconds every time that the timer gets to zero (0) and thirty (30) for the remainder of the ten (10) minutes. After the entire 7 minutes are over, pour the fixer back into the beaker and take off the funnel lid, as it is now safe to expose the film to light.
4.) FIRST WATER WASH - Time is always 2 minutes
Remove the locking funnel lid, set it aside, and place the opened film tank under slowly running COLD water and constantly fill and spill out the water for two (2) minutes.
5.) HYPO CLEAR / ORBIT / PERMA WASH - Time is always 2 minutes
Fill the opened film tank with enough Hypo Clear / Orbit / Perma Wash to cover the film reels and slowly rock the tank while gently rapping the tank bottom every 10 seconds for the entire 2 minutes. After two minutes, pour the Hypo Clear / Orbit / Perma Wash back into the appropriate jug.
6.) SECOND WATER WASH - A minimum of 5 minutes, a maximum of 15 minutes
Take the reels (with the film still rolled on the reels) and set the reels in the film washer tank for 5 to 15 minutes. I prefer 15 minutes in order to completely wash away all traces of chemicals.
7.) CLEAN UP PROCEDURE:
Developer - While your film is washing, pour the used developer into one of the larger disposal tanks. We only use developer once.
Stop Bath - If the stop bath is NOT purple, pour it back into the appropriate jug. If it IS purple, dump it down the sink.
Fixer - If the fixer is clear or only slightly pale yellow, pour it back into the large fixer container with the spout.
Rinse out all of the beakers you have used and place them upside down in their appropriate places. Rinse the developing tank thoroughly and fill it with PhotoFlo.
8.) PHOTOFLO - Always 1 minute
Take your washed film still on the reels and place it into the developing tank which has the PhotoFlo in it. Rock it gently for 1 minute, rapping the tank every so often to remove bubbles. Remove the film from the reel, and wetting your fingers with clean water, use your fingers as a squeegee, gently removing the PhotoFlo from your film. Be careful to not let your film touch anything other than your wet fingers.
9.) DRYING THE FILM - Usually 8 to 10 minutes per side
Turn off the film dryer, put a red clip on the top of your film and a black clip on the bottom and hang the film inside the dryer. Dry for 8 to 10 minutes, then turn off the dryer and flip your film end for end and dry for another 8 to 10 minutes. To ensure that your film is dry, feel the film ends. If they are sticky, the film needs a little more time to dry. Otherwise, take your film to the light table and cut it into strips, using scissors and white cotton gloves to handle the film, and place the film in a film sleeve page.
