filmpic

(The following is for people who don't know anything about film developing process.)

WHY NEED A DARK ROOM?

For merely developing film, a dark room is dispensable because you can do the same thing inside a thick, black garbage bag. For exposing photographs, dark room is indispensable, for the photo paper can't be exposed to even a small amount of light (except red light) before the actual exposure process.

STEPS FOR DEVELOPING FILM

1. Place a reel, the film cannister, a can (for placing the reel), a pair of sessors, and the lid cover inside a garbage bag or a dark room. The reel and the can are available at most photographic equipment shops.

2. In the complete light-absent situation, pull the film out of its cannister carefully.

3. Use the sessors to cut the film off from the role.

4. Role the film into the reel, this may require practice.

5. Place the reel into the can, and cover it with the lid.

6. Now, you may take it out of the garbage bag, or switch on the white light in the dark room, MAKE SURE THE LID IS SECURE.

7. Prepare the followings:
    a.) Developer (Liquid chemical)
    b.) Fixer (Liquid chemical)
    c.) Photo Flo (Soap water)
    d.) A Bottle of pure Water
    e.) A Timer
The Developer and the Fixer are toxic, so handle them with extreme care. They are available at most photograph equipment stores.

Next I will talk about how to make the film to become negatives:

8. There should be a hold in the middle of the lid. First, pour the Developer through the hold into the can. DO NOT REMOVE THE LID. And MAKE SURE YOU POUR ENOUGH DEVELOPER TO COVER THE WHOLE REEL. If you do not pour enough Developer, the upper part of the film will not be developed. In other words, MAKE SURE ALL PARTS OF THE FILM TOUCH THE DEVELOPER. Set the timer to approximately three minutes. A small rode should come together with the can when you buy it. Place that rode into the hole, you should feel that the rode touches the reel. Make sure the rode is interlocked with the reel, and then stir the rode for about twenty to thirty seconds. You should feel that when you stir the rode, the reel also turns. After stirring, shake the can (gently!) for about five to ten seconds, that is for removing the bubbles on the film after stirring. Then leave the can along. When the timer strikes the first second of the second minute, repeat the above process. Do the same thing when it strikes the third minute. In short, you should do the above process three times.

9. After that, quickly dump out the Developer, for if you leave the Developer inside the can for too long, the film will be overly developed. DO NOT OPEN THE LID WHEN YOU DUMP OUT THE DEVELOPER. The design of the can allows liquid the flow out from its edges.

10. Pour in flesh water. The water should be about 48 degree celceus. Stir it for about 15 seconds, then pour the water out. MAKE SURE THE LID IS SECURE. This process is for washing the Developer off the film.

11. Set the timer to one minute and then pour in the Fixer. Stir it for 20 to 30 seconds and then shake the can for fifteen seconds. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE POURED ENOUGH FIXER. After that, leave it along until the end of the minute, and then pour the Fixer out.

12. After you have done with the Fixer, you may take away the lid, for the images on the film have already been fixed. (You may realize that the film has already turned to negatives.) Now, pour in the Photo Flo and stir to clean the negatives for about 30 seconds to one minute. Then carefully pull the negative out of the reel, and hang it to somewhere to let it dry. DO NOT WASH THE NEGATIVES WITH WATER. It may take one of two days to dry. If you want it to dry faster, you may use a hair dryer.

That's all for developing film, next you may want to make photographs.

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HOW TO DEVELOP FILMS?

The can (right) and the lid (left). They are usually black in colour. The lid is a funnel and it should fit properly onto the can.

The film is rolled into the reel.

Place the reel inside the can. Put the lid on as shown. Then pour the chemicals into the funnel (as shown by the arrow).

The stirring rod. It is about the length of a small figer and has two edges at the end of it.