From Camera to Paper: The Complete Photographic Process

Chemical Development...

To complete the steps below, you will need the following:

package of D-76 (developer) stop bath (vinegar) fixer Photo-flo (wetting agent) clothes pins measuring cup thermometer

Developer:

1. Pour 125 ml of water into a large cup
2. Use your thermometer to make sure the temperature is 70 F
3. Add 125 ml of developer into the cup
4. Pull the small cap off of lid and slowly pour in the mixture (tip: tilt your tank to keep the developer from overflowing)
   A small opening in the lid allows liquids to flow through without exposing the film to light.
   
   
5. For the first 30 seconds, slowly agitate the tank
6. After the first 30 seconds, agitate the tank for 5 seconds every 30 seconds
7. If the film you are using is made by Ilford, pour the mixture out of the tank after having processed for 11 minutes. If the film you are using is made by Kodak, pour the mixture out of the tank after having processed for 10 ½ minutes.
8. The developer cannot be used again, pour it down the sink

Stop Bath (prevents further developing):

1. Pour 250 ml of stop bath into tank with temperature of 70°F
2. Slowly agitate tank for 30 seconds and remove
3. The Stop bath can be used again, pour it back into original container

Fixer:

1. Pour 250 ml of fixer into tank with temperature of 70°F
2. Agitate slowly for first 30 seconds
3. Agitate every 30 seconds for 5 seconds
4. If the fixer is new, pour the mixture out after 5 minutes. If the fixer is somewhat new, pour the mixture out after 6 minutes. If the fixer has been used many times, pour it out after 7 minutes.
5. Fixer can be used again, pour it back into original container

Wash (continuous flow of water):

1. It is now safe to remove your reel from your tank
2. Place the reel in a cylinder where it can receive a continuous flow of water
3. Take out reel after 10 minutes

Photo-flo (wetting agent):

1. Dunk the reel of film into the wetting agent
2. Let it soak for 30 seconds

Drying:

1. Unroll your negatives and hang them by a close pin until completely dry.
2. Cut negatives with scissors into frames of 5 (tip: Never cut negatives into a group smaller than 3. To prevent a short length of film, include the end of the roll that does not have frames)

As a beginner, it may take you several tries to develop your negatives correctly. To help learn from these mistakes, take a look at some of the reasons why your negatives developed the way they did. Click Here

Take the negative development quiz.