B&W Film Processing Temperature

(Apologies for not filling the graduates with water for the photograph.)

Manufacturers’ developing times for b&w films seem to be universally specified for nominal developer temperatures of 20ºC or 68ºF. Many believe that only this temperature will produce good results and go to elaborate lengths using things like water baths, immersion heaters, refrigerators, ice cubes, etc. in an attempt to keep all of their chemicals and wash water at exactly that temperature for the entire process.

I was fortunate in my very early days of photography to have a more experienced friend whose darkroom was a tiny closet in a badly heated and not air conditioned apartment in New York City. All of his processing, including developing film, was done with developer temperature at room ambient. And his work, usually in 35mm, regularly won awards. 

And film manufacturers, recognizing that some customers will want to develop their film at temperatures other than 20ºC/68ºF, provide recommended developing times for other temperatures. For example, in their spec sheet Ilford says “HP5 Plus film can be processed over a range of temperatures” and specifies developing times for temperatures from 14ºC to 24ºC or  from 56ºF to 76ºF. 

I do not particularly enjoy developing film. I would rather spend my photography time taking pictures and making prints. So I am always interested in ways to streamline my processing, including not having to regulate film development temperatures, and this is what I do:

I store a one gallon jug of distilled water, a one liter bottle of fixer working solution, and a small bottle of stock developer if I am not using Rodinal* in a pantry next to our guest bathroom where I develop my film.

When I am ready to develop a roll of film I start by mixing the stock developer with distilled water in a plastic graduate and inserting a dial thermometer. 

After everything is measured out in the graduates (developer, water stop bath, fixer, first water wash) and I am ready to start I note the temperature of the working developer solution, look up the appropriate developing time for that temperature and proceed with the processing.

Note that because the only water I use for the whole developing process, including washing the negatives, is about one and a half liters from the jug of distilled water all of the liquids are at exactly the same temperature, and because they are at room ambient they do not change over time.

*With just 5ml of Rodinal (1+50) in a 250ml developing tank the temperature of the stock Rodinal is irrelevant.