Basic Black and White film Developing Kit:
- Here is the list I use to set up basic black and white film development
- Some items such as the developing tank, can still be found at thrift stores
- All prices are as of 2024 on BH photo's website (items total $165 USD)
Quantity: 4 of 1 gallon (4 Liter) jugs $36.00 USD
Quantity: 2 of 1 quart (1 Liter) jugs $14.90 USD
Darkroom Thermometer $4.49 USD
Kodak D-76 Developer $14.99 USD
Kodak Indicator Stop Bath $10.99
Distilled Water - 4 gallons
Funnel
Stopwatch
Dark Room
Hot and cold running tap water (for temp control)
1.
Mix the powdered D-76 developer using a 1 gallon jug and distilled water - follow closely the directions and temperatures on the package. Do this at least 12 hours before use. A small amount of un-disolved particles is not abnormal. This is STOCK solution and should be diluted with distilled water 1:1. to make WORKING solution. The solutions will keep for months and depleted or degraded developer will turn brown and dark.
2.
Mix the stop bath using the 1/2 gallon jug. Use 1 part liquid concentrate to 63 parts distilled water. Stop bath turns violet/purple when exhausted.
3.
Mix the fixer using a 1 gallon jug. Follow the directions on the package containing the powder. Dilute before use with distilled water.
4.
Mix the Hypo Clearing Agent. Follow instructions on package.
5.
Mix the Photo-Flo using a 1/2 gallon or 1 liter jug - Photoflo is optional but it helps the film dry nicely. Follow the mixing instructions on the Photo-Flo bottle.
6.
In a dark room or film bag feed the 120 film onto the developing reel. Once the reel is in the developing tank with the cap on it's safe to turn on the lights.
7. Development
Using D76 working solution 1:1, develop the film following the details set forth here:
(I pour the developer into the tank in the light and it works fine. Kodak says dip the reel into the solution in the dark but I've never seen it done and it sounds like a hassle). Use the chart for developing times.
Dispose of the 1:1 working solution.
8. Stop Bath
Pour the dilute stop bath solution into the developing tank. 30 seconds with agitation. This serves to stop the development process and also serves to prevent exhaustion of the fixer solution by developer solution that clings to the film in the tank.
Pour the stop bath back into the half gallon storage jug. The stop bath solution starts turning violet when exhausted.
9. Fixer
Pour the fixer working solution into the developing tank. Agitate for the time indicated on chart here:
Pour the fixer back into the working solution storage jug. Pink or purplish staining on negatives indicates the fixer is becoming exhausted. Also you can test the fixer with small piece of developed film. The film should clear (lose it's milky appearance) within 10 minutes.
10. Rinse 30 seconds with running water.
11. Hypo Clearing Agent
Pour the hypo clearing agent into the developing tank. 1-2 minutes with agitation.
Pour the clearing agent back into the storage jug.
12. Rinse for at least 5 minutes with running water.
13. Pour the 19:1 Photoflo solution into and back out of the developing tank. Don't re-use the Photoflo solution. Processing is now complete. Remove the film from the reel and hang the strip to dry.
14. Scan the film or better yet, print the film to paper.
