Even with advances in digital technology and photography, there are still a lot of traditional photographers who shoot with film and manual cameras. The need to develop one's film then arises, but if you have little or no experience

Even with advances in digital technology and photography, there are still a lot of traditional photographers who shoot with film and manual cameras. The need to develop one's film then arises, but if you have little or no experience

• Developing film is a complicated but rewarding process. Chemicals must be mixed properly, you need to make sure there is minimal light exposure, and your timing needs to be precise.

1. Scissors

2. Black and white film canister

3. Bottle opener

4. Developing tank

5. Reels

6. Chemicals

7. Lightproof room

• You want to take some time beforehand to prepare your materials. Set the room you plan to use up so that there is no light infiltration and lay out your chemicals. Chemicals usually need to be diluted with water, so follow the below-listed ratios for each chemical:

1. Developer: One part chemical to three parts water mixture.
2. Stop Bath: One part chemical to 63 parts water.
3. Fixer: One part chemical to four parts water.
4. Hypo-clearing Agent: mix powder thoroughly into 1.25 gallons of water.

• You will also need to make sure your chemicals are at 68 degrees Fahrenheit

• Make sure that you know the layout of the room and your tools so when the time comes, you will be comfortably able to navigate the darkness.

• Inside the darkened room, you will want to get your film ready for processing.

1. Open the ends of the film canister with your bottle opener.
2. Take out the film.
3. Cut the tape holding the film to the spool.
4. Cut one inch off of the odd-shaped end of the film so it is flat.
5. Spool the film onto the film reel.
6. Lower film into developing tank.

• You are now ready to begin the chemical process of black and white film developing.

1. Add eight ounces of developer to the developing tank.
2. Tap tank to disburse any bubbles that may have formed.
3. Check the agitation time needed for your film.
4. Set a stopwatch to time yourself.
5. Agitate five seconds for every 30 seconds of agitation.
6. Ten seconds before the end of your agitation limit, pour the developer from the tank.
7. Pour in the stop-bath and agitate.
8. Allow stop-bath to sit for one minute.
9. Pour stop-bath back into its container.
10. Pour in fixer.
11. Agitate fixer for 15 seconds, then for each minute of allotted time, 15 seconds.
12. Pour fixer into its container.
13. Run water through the tank, adding hypo-clearing agent to keep film from drying out.
14. Clip film and hang to dry.
15. Store negatives in a dark place.

• Developing your own film may seem like a tedious process, but once you've got it down it's relatively simple. Exposure, proper timing and the right chemical mixture will ensure that your film

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• Introduction
• You Will Need
• Step 1: Preparation
• Step 2: Familiarize Yourself with the Room's Setup
• Step 3: Getting the Film Ready
• Step 4: Chemicals
• Conclusion