CAFFENOL RECIPE | Easy Step by Step Tutorial | Developing Film at Home

[@chrismckenna4689]

I use caffenol almost exclusively, although not with dry plates yet. The only suggestions I might make are 1) the cheaper and worst-tasting instant coffees seem to work the best, and 2)I have found that measuring by weight makes it easier for me to obtain repeatable results. That having been said, you are and inspiration to us amateurs!

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey Chris. Thanks for sharing those two tips! If you are working with the same materials all the time it is definitely good to weigh things instead of using a spoon to get more constant results. But since we are all using different type of ingredients that do not weigh the same, spoon seemed very universal meaning we can at least get similar ratios :)

[@richardwilliamsiv3778]

The lifting added to the esthetic. Beautiful composition

[@lostlightart6064]

Thank you Richard 😊

[@Edubarca46]

Excellent video. Caffenol is fantastic. One of the great advantages us that when you develop only occasional, you don't have to waste expensive commercial developers which force you to prepare at least one gallon and don't have a very long shelve life. Developing one or two rolls means that caffenol is perfect, dirt cheap and extremely effective.

[@chickenitsa]

Beautiful, Nejc! You're the "McGyver" of film developing!

[@lostlightart6064]

😁

[@francoismassin8649]

Poor you. Life is soo unfair. Stranded on a beautiful island, yeah right ;) You gave 2 great tips. 1. Use higher temps to mix the brew because dissolving instant coffee at 20° doesn't work well and 2. Cook your baking soda if washing soda is not avaliable. It,s easy and works well. No need for extra baking soda volume calculations The end result is good looking, the missing emulsion parts are adding a "je ne sais quoi" to the picture

[@lostlightart6064]

Yea right :D Thanks Francois for a very informative comment like always. Have a nice day :)

[@muppas82]

The contrast and sharpness looked great on that! I think the streaks from the lifted emulsion actually look pretty cool on the image. It's fortunate that they didn't affect the urchin shell, but they kind of point the eye to it through their angles and shapes. Great job improvising while in the field!

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey Patrick. If you look closely it actually hit the urchin as well but agree those streaks help to pull your attention to where it matters :)

[@jennhernandz3912]

I’ve honestly been looking for directions on how to do this all over KZbin on the Internet in general and yours is about the most easy to follow so fingers crossed. I hope this works.

[@rohanaperera1005]

Hi. Thank you for this lovely video. I just heard about caffenol today for the first time. I haven't done any BW processing since 1980. Quite interesting to hear about caffenol and feel like trying it. What's to be used as the fixer, please?

[@JoshuaJung]

It's so cool that you used caffenol to develop plates! I never knew that was possible. Great video!

[@lostlightart6064]

Thank you Joshua. I wanted to give it a try for a long time and now I know 😊

[@margaretmitchell4200]

Well explained and interesting, in excellent English ! Well done.

[@lostlightart6064]

Thank you Margaret :)

[@reynaldocastaneda4712]

Great video Nejc!

[@lostlightart6064]

Thank you

[@renesmets6805]

I never tried this but the explication seems to be perfect to give it a tray, thank you very much for sharing this beautiful presentation.

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey Rene. Glad to see you here and thank you for the kind words. If you will need any help contact me :)

[@calvinf9218]

Hope you can get back to Slovenia soon! Although it might be nice to have an excuse to extend your vacation 😉

[@tlhawkins6699]

Wow! Nice!

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks Trina :)

[@Piratesjunior]

I use caffenol developer and home made fixer using salt the most when i was a beginner ,because it cheeper than real developer and easy to make but , im using a darkroom paper.Then now I finally use real developer!!!!

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks for sharing :)

[@Piratesjunior]

@@lostlightart6064 No problem:)

[@Piratesjunior]

How long that we can keep caffenol developer after we mixed it? Because mine is getting spoiled every time.

[@lostlightart6064]

@@Piratesjunior Not for long. Its recommended to mix it fresh each time ;)

[@Piratesjunior]

@@lostlightart6064 thanks

[@reynaldocastaneda4712]

Thanks Nejc for this video. I will try this soon. One question. Can Caffenol be use as paper developer?

[@lostlightart6064]

You are welcome. Sure it can!

[@calvinf9218]

Indeed it can although it tends to stain sometimes

[@reynaldocastaneda4712]

@@calvinf9218 is there a way to avoid staining? thanks calvin

[@calvinf9218]

@@reynaldocastaneda4712 I've only used it a couple times, some were stained and some weren't. I'm not sure exactly how it can be prevented, but I imagine extra washing can't hurt. The only way to really be safe from staining is to use store bought developer. Although I think the random staining gives the photo a bit of character 🙂

[@reynaldocastaneda4712]

@@calvinf9218 Thanks!

[@greatoutdoorsgear7538]

can you use this for color c41

[@BonsaiBrandy]

Have you tried using a homemade salt water fixer? That seems like something in the same vein as this. Ive done it a couple times and it seems to work, though you need to fix for about 2 days at room temp or about 8 hours at 35 celsius.

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey. Yes I have but since I didnt have access to proper the darkroom I just couldn't afford leaving the plate in the salt for 2 days in the back of a camper van...

[@jeanlucdushime]

About the fixer. Would a rapid fixer work or I need a fixer with hardener for dry plates? thanks

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey. Yes rapid fixer is the way to go with zebra plates 😊

[@petergoodrum1607]

With film..in Patterson Drums Prewash film till water is clear. Caffenol CM recipe use Sodium Carbonate Anhydrous form, dry (commonly used in hot tubs weighed out as is, not washing soda which contains water and needs a factor of 2.7 to get the correct amount of SC... Decahydrate form) Powder Vit C not tabs as they will have binders and other impurities in them. Kbr.. Dev as per Caffenol recommends, WATER stop bath change water till the brown stains go which prevents inpurities carrying over into stop bath. , I decant films in subjued light and fix for a minuit or so in subjued lighting then in I full light so you can see what you are doing and fix for ages in Ilford Rapid Fix... I use a 4 ltr food container as a deep deep tank...

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey Pater. Thanks for sharing many useful informations. Appreciate it 👍

[@Goofycamera]

that was fucking awesome.

[@lostlightart6064]

Thank you 🖤

[@syanerach6645]

Can use this recipe for 35mm?

[@lostlightart6064]

Sure

[@calvinf9218]

The point the washing soda is to donate OH- to solution, yes? A few drops of lye or potent drain cleaner should do the trick as well, no?

[@BonsaiBrandy]

Do you know whether fresh caffenol could be stored or if used caffenol could even be reused as you can with other developers?

[@lostlightart6064]

No its better to be mixed right before development and used right away :)

[@johnrome5827]

You are that.emoving the items too much. I can't focus on these. Do you really have to move a teaspoon around like that

[@lostlightart6064]

Sorry I will keep it in mind next time