How I Develop Black And White Film At Home

Summary

This video offers a comprehensive guide to developing 35mm film at home using a Patterson film processing starter kit. The host shares a step-by-step process, including equipment setup, chemical preparation with D76 developer, and the use of the Massive Dev chart for timing. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a consistent 20°C temperature for optimal development results. The video also covers film loading, agitation techniques, and post-development washing and drying methods, concluding with a call to engage with the community on film developing experiences.

Takeaways

• 📷 The video creator is working on a film photography project, using a Leica MP and a 35mm lens for a year to focus on creativity.
• 🎞️ They choose to develop film at home to avoid the cost and the idea of strangers handling their negatives.
• 🛠️ A film processing starter kit from Patterson is recommended, which includes essential items for under $100.
• 🧪 The kit contains items like graduates, a developing tank, reels, chemicals, and a film drying clip, but additional items like a changing bag and smaller graduates are needed.
• 💧 Chemicals discussed include D76 developer, Ilfostop stop bath, and Kodak Codefix fixer, with a wetting agent like Photo-Flo to prevent water spots.
• 🔩 The Patterson tank and reels are detailed, explaining how to load 35mm film onto the reels in complete darkness.
• ⏱️ The Massive Dev chart is mentioned as a resource for development times and as an app with a timer for the development process.
• 🌡️ Maintaining a consistent temperature of 20 degrees Celsius for the developer is crucial for consistent results.
• 🚿 After development, a series of water washes and a final wash with Photo-Flo is performed to clean the film and prevent water spots.
• 📝 The process of developing film at home is outlined in a step-by-step manner, emphasizing the importance of organization and timing.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the narrator's film photography project?

The purpose of the narrator's film photography project is to focus on the creative side of shooting with film by limiting themselves to a specific camera, lens, and film combination for the next year.

Why does the narrator choose to develop their own film at home?

The narrator develops their own film at home to avoid the expense of sending it to a lab and because they don't like the idea of strangers touching their negatives.

What is included in the Patterson film processing starter kit mentioned in the script?

The Patterson film processing starter kit includes three 600 ml graduates, a developing tank with two reels, some Milford chemicals, two sets of film drying clips, a nine-inch thermometer, a chemical stir stick, and a 35-millimeter cassette opener.

What additional equipment did the narrator purchase to complement the starter kit?

The narrator purchased a changing bag, smaller graduates for precision measuring, and one-gallon jugs to store mixed chemicals.

What developer, stop bath, and fixer does the narrator use for their film processing?

The narrator uses D76 developer diluted one to one, Ilfostop as the stop bath, and Kodak Codefix as the fixer.

How does the narrator ensure the correct temperature for the developer solution?

The narrator uses a 20 degrees Celsius water bath to equalize the temperature of the developer solution and keeps the tank in the water bath during the development process to maintain a stable temperature.

What is the development time for Ilford HP5 using D76 developer according to the Massive Dev chart?

According to the Massive Dev chart, the development time for Ilford HP5 using D76 developer diluted one to one at ISO 400 is 13 minutes at 20 degrees Celsius.

How does the narrator load the film onto the reels in the dark?

The narrator loads the film onto the reels by feeling for the entrance gate's teeth, guiding the film onto the reel, and then twisting the reel to advance the film onto it.

What is the process for washing the film after development?

The narrator uses the Ilford method of fill, agitate, dump, and repeat, starting with five inversions and increasing to 20 inversions with each cycle.

How does the narrator prevent water spots on the film during drying?

The narrator adds three ml of Photoflo, a wetting agent, to 600 ml of distilled water after washing the film to prevent water spots from forming during drying.

What is the narrator's next step after developing the film?

The narrator's next step is to figure out scanning the developed film, which will be the topic of another video.