Chapter 5

Developing Tank

• panchromatic film is sensitive to all spectrum of light so it must be handled and processed in complete darkness
• we use a light tight tank during processing to make it more convenient

Total Dark Loading Space

• we must be in total darkness to load film
• to check for light leaks, allow your eyes 5-10 minutes to adjust to the darkness then look for leaks

Thermometer

• use a thermometer designed for photographic use
• stainless steel thermometers have quick response and are less likely to break than glass
• control of temperature is CRITICAL to film development

Step by Step Loading Film

1. Lay out equipment in darkroom. Make sure tank is clean and dry. Check that adjustable reels are set at the correct size.
2. Turn off the light. Use the bottle opener to pop the cap off the flat end of the film canister. Remove the film on the spool.
3. Trim off the narrow leader so that the end of the film is square.
4. Holding the film and reel, slide the end of the film into the opening of the spinal until it locks under the stainless steel balls.
5. Move the reels back and forth to walk the film onto the reel.
6. When you reach the end of the roll, cut the film just before the end and wind the remainder onto the reel.
7. Place the reel onto the spindle in the tank.
8. Put the double I.D. system together. Turn on lights.

Timing

• the developing process is continuous, with each step timed. Once you ave begun you should continue through without pause

Temperature Control

• developer temperature must be determined accurately and maintained throughout the development process
• the temperature of the other solutions is not critical but should be within ±5° C of the temperature of development

Step by Step Film Processing

1. Mix the developer to the proper working solution for the film type that you are using. You can find the information either on the box or online at digitaltruth.com. Now is a good time to prepare stop and fix as well.'
2. Adjust the temperature of the water added to developer so that the temperature of the developer falls in the desired range.
3. Once the film is loaded, start the timer and pour the developer in the tank.
4. The developer must be agitated during the development process for even results

a) Pour developer into tank
b) Agitate for 30 seconds
c) Let rest for 30 seconds
d) Agitate for 10-15 seconds
e) Let rest for the rest of the minute
f) Continue to agitate for about 10-15 seconds every minute until time is up

5. Stop Bath - We generally just use water for this step Fill the tank with room temperature water and agitate for about 30 seconds and drain per minute remaining.
6. Fixer - poor the fixer into the tank. Agitate for 30 seconds for the first minute and then 10-15 seconds per minute remaining
7. Wash - Wash the film in continuous flowing water for 10 minutes
8. Photoflo - Add a couple of drops of photoflo to wash the water and agitate for about 30 seconds
9. Drying - carefully remove film from the reel. Film is extremely sensitive when wet. Squeegee (or not) and hang to dry.

Total Chemistry:

Need 300mL per roll of film
1:9 ratio of developer 30mL/270mL (developer/water)
1:4 ratio of fix 60mL/240mL (fix/water)
stop 300mL

Effect of Developer - since the silver image on the negative is formed during development the amount of developer is critical in controlling neg density

Amount of Development

Time: the amount of development increases with time
Temperature: the amount of development increases with temperature increase
Agitation: the amount of development increases with increased agitation

Neg Contrast

• in general, increasing developer increase the amount of development but it has more effect in the highlight areas than in the shadow areas
  "Shoot for the shadows, develop for the highlights." - Ansel Adams
  increase in development
• increase in contrast (more separation between shadows and highlights)
• decrease in development - decrease in contrast (less separation between shadow and highlights)

Film Exposure

Contrast - underexposed negs show a loss of contrast. Overexposed negs show an almost unnoticeable change in contrast.
Dark Tone Detail - underexposure results in a loss of shadow detail
Grain - grain size increases with increased exposure

Film Development

Contrast - increases as film development is increased
Dark Tone Detail - negs show little change in density with increase in development
Grain - careful examination of prints shows that increased developments results in larger grain

Developer

Chemical Action - produces more metallic silver around the latent image making it a visible image this chemical process is called reduction
Chemical Composition - the main component of the developer is the reducing agent but a number of other components are added to produce a usable developer
Developing agents - metol, hydroquinone, phenidone (reducing agent)
Accelerator - used to speed up development
Restrainer - to prevent the developer from developing in underexposed areas
Preservative - to reduce oxidation of developing agents

Stop - H2O

Fixer - converts unused salts to a soluble form