How to develop film

If you're looking to get into film photography, it's important to know how to load a camera, develop film, and use a darkroom.

If you need to learn how to load film into a camera, read our article about that here.

Let's take a look at how to develop film.

Key Words

35mm Film - This is the name of the film format. The images will be 36x24mm. Developing Tank - This is the container you put your reels of film in for developing. There are different sized developing tanks if you want to add more reels, but you must make sure your inner core is the right size for the developing tank.

Reels - The reel is a plastic wheel that you ratchet your film onto before putting it into the container.

Inner core - The inner core is part of the developing tank. You place your reel(s) onto it so it stays firmly in place inside the container.

Funnel - The funnel is part of the developing tank. You pour the chemicals in here and it keeps the reels in the dark.

Ratchet - Ratchet is the sideways movement you make to load the film onto the reel.

You Will Need

• 35mm film (used)

• A pitch black room

• Developing tank (lid, inner core, funnel, container) - Must be dry.

• Reel(s) - Must be dry

• Scissors

• Panic Box (optional)

• Film Cartridge Opener (optional)

• Water

• Thermometer

• Developer Solution

• Stop Solution

• Fix Solution

• Wetting Agent

• Measuring jug

• Jug big enough for the reels

• Pegs

• Film Dryer (or a place you can hang your roll of film)

• Film strip storage pockets

First gather your film, developing tank, reels, and scissors. Your developing tank and reels must be dry to avoid water marks on your film. Make sure you have all the components to your developing tank. Put them in a room that will be pitch black. You may have a panic box in the room in case you need someone to check you've done the next steps right or you suddenly need to leave the room.

If your developing tank is big enough for two reels but you only have one roll of film, take a spare cannister in to avoid sliding once developing.

Make sure the room is pitch black before you begin. Pull your film partly out of the cannister. Cut off the film tab. If you rolled your film all the way into the cannister and can't get the film out, pull the cannister apart with your film cartridge opener.

Load your film onto your reel by aligning the silver balls on the reel. Make sure the film is over the silver ball bearings. Ratchet the film on by moving the two sides of the reel in opposite directions until the entire film roll is on. If your cannister is still attached, cut it off now.

Place the inner core into the container and slide your reel(s) down it. Place the funnel over it and lock into place. Put the lid on tightly so it won't slip off easily and ensuring no light can get to the film.

Now you may leave the room or turn a light on.

For the next steps, you're chemicals must be already diluted.

If all the chemicals are ready, you can begin developing your film. You will need 300ml of each solution per 35mm film - or 500ml for 120mm film. This means if your container is big enough for two reels, use 600ml for 35mm.

First is the pre-wash. This is just water that is 20 degrees Celsius. Pour the water into the container and close the lid tightly, pinching the sides.

Agitate the container continuously for two minutes by tilting side to side. Pour the water down the sink.

Pour in your developer solution and tighten the lid. Agitate constantly for 30 seconds and leave to set for thirty seconds before agitating five times every thirty seconds, tapping the container lid after every five agitations for seven and a half minutes - the developer will have been inside the container for eight minutes total. The tapping will help ensure no bubbles on the film. After eight minutes, pour out the developer.

Next, pour in the stop solution and firmly place the lid. This will stop the developing process. Agitate continuously for one minute before pouring out.

Pour in the fix solution and close the lid tightly. This process is the same as the developing solution (agitate for thirty seconds, and then five times every thirty seconds, tapping the lid at the end) but only for five minutes instead of eight. Make sure the fix solution is returned to the correct solution tub and not poured down the sink.

Now you can take the reels out of the container and put them in a jar under the sink taps. Using cold, running water, leave the reels to wash for twenty minutes.

After the twenty minutes, put your film reels into a tub of water with a couple drops of wetting agents and agitate by dipping in and out twenty times.

Remove the film for the reel and hang the film to dry using two pegs, one on either end so the film can't curl up.

If you have a film dryer, the setting should by 18 minutes on heat setting 'I'.

Once dried, cut your film intro strips of six negatives ready for going into the darkroom. If you have film strip storage pockets, place your film strips in here to keep the clean and safe.