How easy is it for b+w?


Currently a friend does it for me as he knows what he's doing and has all the kit.

However I want to play!!!!! I have 10 rolls begging to be used, oh and a new scanner turning up tomorrow :D

Simple :D

Ok smart arse!

Care to explain what kit is needed etc??

Get yourself a light-tight changing bag (I think Kenro do one) to load the films into a Paterson Universal Dev tank. These come in various sizes which will take, 2 - 6 reels of film, each on their own plastic spiral. The 2 reel tank will do you.

Practice with a duff roll of film loading the spiral in daylight, as once you break the film canister open you will have to get in on the spiral and into the tank.

Mix your Dev and Fix to required quality,dilution and temp, pour in the dev for the recommended time, pour out, rinse with water (or stop bath if you wish), then pour in the fix for the required time, pour out. Allow film to wash in the tank for 20mins, remove from spiral, hang to dry.

SIMPLE.

So simple, I've processed, scanned and sent from the car.

Any queries, give me a call.

Gareth :D

home developing and printing is fairly easy. You can pick up the equipment quite easily.

Loading the film onto the reels is a bit tricky, everything else is down to temperatures and timing. A couple of paperclips to hang onto the bottom of the films helps, otherwise they can curl up again, plus you need somewhere to hang them from...

Will do, but getting very distracted by Califonication at the mo!!! :norty:

I did a GCSE in the 80's where I had to delvelop & print my own B&W images. It tought me a lot, I still have all the kit, but it's in a box under the stairs.

Not doing the printing thing, just the devloping, then scan.

Just to add, you will obviously need some measuring jugs to hold the chemicals, and there are numerous accessories to "make it easier", but thats the basic, OH and a watch/timer for the obvious.

If you have the bag, tank, spirals, chemicals and measuring jugs, the rest are helpful but not necessary. The only other useful item is a film wipe or squiggey (spelling?) - again from Patterson - to remove excess water before leaving the film to dry.

do the printing bit as well, thats fun bit. Sloshing the tank, watching the picture magically appear :)

As above, it's really easy. You could probably get the kit you need nice and cheap off ebay.

Andrew's right... if you do your own printing too, it's smart watching the print appear.

Dodging and burning etc. all great fun and will help with photoshop techniques :thumb:

ah the memories, pissing in the sink in the dark room, touching up the girlies.

oh to be 17 again :(

16 for me, and schools dark room was well soundproofed too :norty:

It's what go me started too ;)

Home developing and printing is very rewarding although it takes bloomin' ages to do it well. I still feel digital is cheating and you can't beat proper hand printed black and white.

Ok is it as easy as this guy makes it look?

Holga Techniques: Developing Film (http://www.squarefrog.co.uk/holga-techniques-developingfilm.html)

It's not hard, if you need any kit let me know.

What's the point if you're not going to print in a darkroom? Developing films is just a chore and you'll end up with an inferior original to a black & white digital file.

Printing from film is where the fun and skill is. It's also costly and hard work, but very rewarding :)

Richard.

Will do :thumb: I know my mate just sold all his Patterson tanks on ebay 2 weeks ago!


GIT!!!!

I agree with Hoppy, the thrill is more in the printing than the film developing, where you can't 'see' or imagine what you are doing.

At least in a B&W darkroom under red light you can see the print develop, which is the most rewarding experience :)

A good tip for training on the Patterson tanks is to use an old faulty film. I used a scrap roll of FP4 for this and other training purposes

I'll buy a cheap ass tesco roll of film to practice with. Bugger scrapping a roll of my Ilford :D