Developing Film 4 – Process

It takes me about half an hour to develop a roll of 35mm black and white film. Here’s how I do it. 

I measure 5ml of Rodinal into the developer graduate and add distilled water to make 250ml. I measure 50ml of Rapid Fixer into the fixer graduate and add distilled water to make 250ml. I put 250ml of plain distilled water in the stop bath graduate and in the wash water graduate. 

I put the thermometer in the developer graduate and enter the reading into the Massive Dev Chart app on my iPhone.

I pour the developer into the developing tank, put on the cap, start the Massive Dev Chart timer, and invert the tank four times. I then invert the tank four times at one minute intervals until the timer sounds. 

I remove the cap, pour out the developer, pour in the plain distilled water stop bath, replace the cap and invert the tank four times.

I remove the cap, pour out the stop bath, pour in the fixer, replace the cap and invert the tank four times. I then invert the tank four times at one minute intervals until a total of three minutes had elapsed.

I remove the cap, pour out the fixer, pour in 250ml of distilled water, replace the cap and invert the tank five times. 

I remove the cap, pour out the water, pour in 250ml of distilled water, replace the cap and invert the tank ten times. 

I remove the cap, pour out the water, pour in 250ml of distilled water, replace the cap and invert the tank twenty times. 

I open the tank, remove the film, firmly hold the two ends and snap it straight several times to remove excess water, attach the film clips, and hang the film up to dry in the most dust free place in the house – the shower stall. 

Done!