ptarmigan Posted November 4, 2009 Author Share #21 Posted November 4, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Only you can develope film to the exact contrast that suits your purpose. For non C41, you will need a pro lab and they don`t come cheap. Probably cheaper to use color. Personallty, I would not do B&W without a darkroom. Darkroom, no chance! Mrs P would not wear that one and to be honest I don't have the interest in that anymore as 95% of my shooting will continue to be digital, most of that with the M8. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 Hi ptarmigan, Take a look here Process your own B&W film or lab?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted November 4, 2009 Share #22 Posted November 4, 2009 If you are developing your own B&W to scan from, you don't need a darkroom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted November 4, 2009 Share #23 Posted November 4, 2009 If you are developing your own B&W to scan from, you don't need a darkroom. That's very true. I've developed hundreds of rolls of film using nothing more elaborate than a changing bag and never had a single one fogged. A darkroom may be easier because you have more space, but that a convenience, rather than a necessity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptarmigan Posted November 4, 2009 Author Share #24 Posted November 4, 2009 As I said earlier, I've done all this before but not for a long time and apart from the use of a proper darkroom at college I only ever 'converted' the family bathroom as a makeshift/occasional darkroom anyway. Our spare room serves as my home office, music rooms (I play tenor sax) and 'dry' darkroom/workstation. I do have room for an enlarger but no running water. NO! Stop it, I don't want to develop my own prints. Just need to check my 'bag' is big enough for the 'Paterson' though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 4, 2009 Share #25 Posted November 4, 2009 B&W filmed scanned and printed digitally still looks very different from a purely digital image, you retain the quality of the film, and grain. You also have the option of scanning, dodging/burning in photoshop and then mailing the file to Ilford who will make a traditional print from it, so you have a lot of the control that you would have in a traditional darkroom! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kivis Posted November 8, 2009 Share #26 Posted November 8, 2009 been shooting Color print film lately, then converting to BW with DXO Film Pack. I am such a cheater. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AgXlove Posted November 12, 2009 Share #27 Posted November 12, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's very simple and a lot cheaper than having the films developed by a lab. There's a 'how to' guide produced by Ilford here... http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/200629163442455.pdf I've attached the PDF to this message. [ATTACH]171250[/ATTACH] Here (midwest USA) my local lab charges $14US to develop & contact print a roll of B&W. I can do both myself for $2US or less (haven't pinned doen the exact cost yet). The $12US I save buys me three more rolls of Tri-X at B&H. It's not hard at all to develop B&W - developer, stop bath, fixer, wash. B&W is less temperature sensitive than E6, which I used to develop myself. Developing your own film is enjoyable and rewarding; it saves you alot of money too. And there's no damn computers or Photoshop involved in the eprocess. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulnacco Posted November 21, 2009 Share #28 Posted November 21, 2009 Hi, Ian! Yes, developing your own black & white is indeed simple, cheap...and joyous! You can certainly get the chemicals & other stuff you need at Calumet, and I do throw a lot of business their way. But you might also give the folks at Process Supplies down in London a bit of your support. Process Supplies (London) Ltd provide a specialised supply service for professional photographers - Photographic Materials, Photography Materials, Digital Media Suppliers, London, UK’ Their prices tend to be a bit cheaper than Calumet's, and they carry a truly complete line of equipment and supplies for doing your own analogue (and digital) printing. I try to do as much business with them as much as possible, as they are one of the few places left that cater to all the needs of folks who process (and print) their own film. And they're genuinely nice people to deal with. Their website is not so easy to navigate at times, so you might give them a ring. And if you find yourself down in London on a weekday, you might pop into their place just off Rosebery Avenue, near Farringdon Station. As far as film, though, the best place to get it in the UK is 7dayshop.com. They carry an extensive range of B&W and colour film. They give attractive quantity discounts, and they don't charge VAT as they're located in Guernsey. Hope this helps...have lots of fun! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpattison Posted November 21, 2009 Share #29 Posted November 21, 2009 (edited) Ian, If you only dev film for scanning, (as I suspect Mrs P will wish!), then I highly recommend Ilford Delta 100 in Ilford ID11 at 1+1 dilution, see the Ilford website for recommended times for hand development. Shoot the film at 100 ISO to start with, as Lightroom or Photoshop will allow you the ease of making exposure adjustments. It's taken me a few years of trying different film/dev combinations, and this gives the best results. I print them digitally to A3. Have fun, John Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited November 21, 2009 by jpattison Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/102434-process-your-own-bw-film-or-lab/?do=findComment&comment=1125839'>More sharing options...
MattLain Posted November 22, 2009 Share #30 Posted November 22, 2009 DIY! Silverprint - Home - News - Photographic Materials and more - Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdozier Posted November 23, 2009 Share #31 Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) I agree wholeheartedly with others. Process yourself. For me, I find the act of processing to be very rewarding and integral to my experience and ownership of the negatives. It makes me more responsible for the final outcome (good or bad) and gives me a more intimate relationship with the picture (just my personal experience). As a tip, I think Hewes reels are far easier and more reliable than others for working in a changing bag. Very easy to get loaded correctly. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy it. m Edited November 23, 2009 by mdozier grammer Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamann Posted November 24, 2009 Share #32 Posted November 24, 2009 I develop all my own negs using the Agfa Rodinol..I bought about 15 litres before it was discontinued. Its great for any B&W film I have my own enlarger and use a "sleeping bag" type of arrangement for printing. I put the print paper, once its been exposed, into a tube. The go to my "bathroom/Darkroom " and dev the prints...scan from the prints.. I will be doing a series this January and post the results and go over the details. There is absolutely no replacement for doing your own negs, you can get superb results, excellent grain and clean negs, without the need of a "darkroom"..I load my negs in my Patterson using a "light bag"..very easy. I also "roll my own"...buy the film bulk and roll my own canisters, a savings of about 70%. Cheers, JRM Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flatfour Posted November 26, 2009 Share #33 Posted November 26, 2009 Unfortunately Ilford no longer produce a C41 kit, but any two bath process will do - Tetenal etc. which can be got from Silverprint. Alternatively if you go onto the Ilford web site they give you the names of processors of XP2 400 - mostly Boots in the UK Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 26, 2009 Share #34 Posted November 26, 2009 Why would you want to go to the bother of home developing C41 b&w film, when developing proper b&w film is so cheap and easy? Doesn't make sense to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted November 26, 2009 Share #35 Posted November 26, 2009 Alternatively if you go onto the Ilford web site they give you the names of processors of XP2 400 - mostly Boots in the UK Any lab that can process colour negative film can process XP2. Getting decent prints is another matter. I used to ask my local 1hr lab to process the film without printing. The cost was around £1 per film. Personally I prefer the look of traditional b&w films. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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