smgorsch Posted April 4, 2011 Share #1 Posted April 4, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well, it seemed inevitable -- the only place in town that would process and render high resolution scans of my film has elected to stop processing film due to lack of demand. Consequently, the time seems propitious for me to learn how to do it myself. I'll probably splurge and buy a Hasselblad X1 or X5 Flextight for scanning. I need assistance w/ processing, though. I've never done it and live in a small, 200 year old cottage where there's absolutely no place for a darkroom. I've heard that one can develop in a bag. So my questions are these: What's the best place to go for information to get started on developing? What materials should I get? Is it really feasible with no more than a kitchen sink and off the shelf supplies (finances aren't necessarily limiting)? Our house drains into a septic field close to many beautiful and environmentally sensitive areas. How concerned should I be about chemical waste? Am I restricted (for practical purposes) to B&W, or is it reasonable to think that I could process colors film like Portra, given my constraints. thanks in advance stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 4, 2011 Posted April 4, 2011 Hi smgorsch, Take a look here Newbie FIlm Processing Help Please. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Stealth3kpl Posted April 4, 2011 Share #2 Posted April 4, 2011 Some tips here: YouTube - Episode 20, how to develop black and white film http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/171439-film-developing-tanks-reels.html The septic tank poses a problem. Bottle the waste chemicals and ship it out. Good luck! Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
too old to care Posted April 4, 2011 Share #3 Posted April 4, 2011 Can't tell you about the septic tank problems, but I have always used my kitchen at home for developing prints. I just wait until dark, pull the curtains tight, put up the safe light and print away. Never any problems. As far as having a completely dark place to load the film, I use an inside closet. Close the door, kick up a towel or rug to cover the crack on the floor, place my back to the door in case light leaks in, and load the tank. No problems here either. I have not done color, but it looks as simple as b&w for the negatives. I scan my color negatives and usually the same for b&w, but recently went back to wet prints too. Wayne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smgorsch Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted April 5, 2011 Some tips here: YouTube - Episode 20, how to develop black and white film http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/171439-film-developing-tanks-reels.html The septic tank poses a problem. Bottle the waste chemicals and ship it out. Good luck! Pete Wow! -- the B&W developing video makes it look too easy. What have I been waiting for? Thanks for the links. stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted April 5, 2011 Share #5 Posted April 5, 2011 B&W processing is easy - it must be, I can do it! No need for a darkroom or messing about in a closet, just get a changing bag. Practice loading the reel with a discarded film, first looking at what you are doing, then with your eyes closed and finally using the changing bag. 35mm film is relatively easy to load but I have been rediscovering this week that 120 film can be a bit of a 'pita'. There are a myriad books on the subject and a quick search on Amazon will help you identify potential purchases. Personally I turn to Michael Langord's 'Basic Photography' and for inspiration to Ansel Adams's 'The Negative'. Have never tried the C41 or E6 colour-dev processes due to the need for tightly-controlled temperatures of these multi-bath processes. (No doubt someone will respond that "it is easy - even they can do it"!) Unreeling your first film and seeing that there are images there is a great experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 5, 2011 Share #6 Posted April 5, 2011 B&W is very easy, not much more involved than making a cup of coffee. Check out the Ilford website, they have a good beginners guide you can download. No need for a darkroom if you're not doing wet prints. As said, you use a changing bag to load the film onto the spiral, which goes into the tank, pop the lid on (all inside the changing bag) then you do the rest under normal light. C41 is almost as easy you just need to be more careful with the temperatures - you don't need any special equipment, a water bath (washing bowl) kept at the required temperature to stand the chemicals in, so you keep them all constant will work. I used a fish tank heater as well, to avoid having to top up with hot water. E6 is more tricky, temperatures become more critical, but the above methods still work, or you can invest in a Jobo processor. Have fun! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted April 5, 2011 Share #7 Posted April 5, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi I agree with James 100% For a darkroom a walk on cupboard is ideal especially if you plan on any 120/220. or cine reels of 35mm. It can be a food cupboard as well. For mono only the used fixer is bad, bottle and find a silver recycler... Use best dev Rodinal or clone is ground down painkiller tablets and drain cleaner, you can make your own... Get the kit from new DSLR person free. You can still get the C41 chemicals as easy to mix kits they will have more septic tank problems, supplier will have web page.. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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