Develop black and white film at home with Caffenol

[@miguelochoa7978]

Finally a developing process made properly and well explained. Best video about this topic. Thank you.

[@GavinParsons]

Thanks Miguel.

[@motaroufltd5007]

Just applied your method with a friend : first time developing anything for the both of us, and it actually worked perfectly. Really mind blowing. Special thank for the link to the Caffenol Cookbook, been really useful.

[@motaroufltd5007]

PS : to try and skip the last chemical (in our case some Ilford Rapid Fixer) : I’ve read about an alternative method, using diluted vinegar as a fixer. Ever tried it ?

[@GavinParsons]

I haven't tried it, but I will give it a go. Thanks for the info

[@BonsaiBrandy]

@@motaroufltd5007 theres a video by brendanbarryphotography where he uses salt as a fixer. I think thats how they used to do it in the mid 1800’s. it wont work quite as well, a lot of the early photographs with that technique have faded, but 160 years later thats not too surprising. Did you ever try with vinegar? howd it go if so?

[@ChristopherMichaelR]

When I learned photography I decided to learn how to develop my film. The only way I developed my film was with caffenol. I'm coming back to shooting film and your video is really helpful for me to brush up on what I forgot. Thanks!

[@GavinParsons]

Welcome back to the Dark side Christopher ;-)

[@SilntObsvr]

I've used Caffenol and variations of it since 2003. Works great. If you leave out the Vitamin C, it's slower working, but produces a stain image overlaid on the silver image that smooths out the grain in a darkroom silver-gelatin print (though it doesn't help the scanning at all).

[@GavinParsons]

That's useful info. Thank you. I'll try that on my next film.

[@Edubarca46]

Excellent video AND book. I tried Caffenol and the results are superb on 35mm film. One question is there a versionn order to develop 100 ISO film obtaining ultra fine grain because I shoot a lot of Minox spy camera film format 8 x 11mm negative? Thank you EDUARDO from Colombia.

[@dalehammond1749]

Caffenol is very much underrated. I've spent a lot of money on developers and film and I've learned to respect Caffenol.

[@GavinParsons]

And Dale, it's not harmful to the environment

[@Tamirkaas]

I want to say to you that colorfilm is also perfectly developed as black and white film. Only you have to compensate for the brown color of the carrier of the emulsion in your software later when scanned. Also, temperature is not of the most essential here with this receipt. I did not hold it as close to the recommendation temp. And worked every time. Even I used sodium hydroxide, sewer release agent. And that worked evenly fine. Just alkaline vitamine ç and what ever will work. Do not be to specific. Just experiment and you will see it will work just fine.

[@victorrichards5672]

Shit really?

[@derrenleepoole]

I’ve had a frustrating weekend of failed negatives with Caffenol. So I watched a few videos to see where I might be going wrong and stumbled upon yours. Your suggestion of multiplying the soda content by a factor of x2.7 was a real eye opener and life safer. Especially as I’m in the UK and was using the same type as yours, but without success. Tried your instruction, complete success! Cheers matey :)

[@GavinParsons]

Dude I am glad it worked. The extra moisture in the UK air seems to be a issue in Caffenol as I had the same issue a few years back when I changed washing soda.

[@postecogniac]

Hi Gavin, just found your channel, would you consider making a series of videos about better smartphone photography advice? Lots of us are taking poor photos without knowing what we're doing. ☺

[@bryanotero123]

Coffee with wilk, the way it should always be drank,

[@Bob32328]

First comment in a year! And Gavin do u know if by any chance the pdf was deleted because I tried to open it and it never let me in. It said the page was not found. Thanks!

[@matthiasbarenfanger331]

Great Video ., I've been developing my own films since 2012 whis Caffenol. mit freundlichem Gruß aus dem Schaumburger Land Matthias

[@homesickphotographycomau4107]

great video the power of coffee and it unknown abilities

[@noslomoTV]

Can I develop Fujifilm C200 this way . It's a Color film . I'd get Ilford HP5 . But it's expensive and a bit rare .

[@noslomoTV]

And when I say I wanna develop Fujifilm C200 (Color) I understand that it won't get developed in Color. But that's not a problem . I'm new to film and have always wanted to mess with it . When I finally got hold of a camera and got my first roll developed the local shop ran out of C41 chemicals and put development on indefinite hiatus . (Still hoping the chemicals start shipping again) anywho , lemme know if Fujifilm C200 develops the caffenol way , albeit into B&W .

[@GavinParsons]

I believe t is possible (I have never done it). The results are probably going to turn out very flat, but you should be able to fix that if you scan the negatives. As for timings and temperatures you will have to do some research to find out what they need to be.

[@noslomoTV]

@@GavinParsons scan the negatives .Timings and temperatures . Got it . Heard they turn out sepia .

[@brendanwhite3731]

Hi I try to open the link but not opening 040 error. Hi herd about the coffee developing love to get the recipe. Hi from IRL

[@GavinParsons]

Hey Brendan, thanks for highlighting this. I've updated the link.

[@andreeaharabagiu8856]

Really great video!

[@johnsmith7244]

can someone please share if you are able to push or pull during development or it should only develop at the stock ISO?

[@trevorwright6165]

this was wonderful to watch now i will look at the next part thank you from trev

[@GavinParsons]

Glad you enjoyed it Trev

[@Edubarca46]

One quick question, Can caffenol replace Dektol developer for photographic paper development?

[@GavinParsons]

I have never tried as I don't have a darkroom any more.

[@thomassicard3733]

The coffee will stain the paper. If you like a sepia tone, that MIGHT work, otherwise NO.

[@nedparsons5668]

I'll be trying it mate, even though I don't have the same accent.

[@GavinParsons]

Maybe not the same accent, but you have a cool surname :-)

[@beaupfeifferrecordings]

amazing that it worked but how do you push your film or pull it like the digital truth chart - www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php - Im glad that's not me im all Ilford brands just my thoughts brother

[@GavinParsons]

Like everything with Caffenol it's all down the trial and error. I try to avoid pushing or pulling film developed in Caffenol, just because the ball park has been worked out for you, but the coffee brand or washing soda brand does alter the time slightly. So my advice is get the exposure right for the correct ISO and use HP5 as the 400ISO gives more versatility.

[@beaupfeifferrecordings]

good advice buddy but I think ill stick to the traditional developer LC29 if those guys at harman technology bugger up there ingredients that's on there hands

[@minigpracing3068]

What camera was used, looks like 6x18 and possibly pinhole

[@GavinParsons]

Hey Mini, the camera is my Kodak No.3A, which was made in 1918. I used it in another video on my channel.

[@sailorarmy7565]

Can you do this with color film? I'm new to this.

[@GavinParsons]

I don't think it will develop color film. It may develop it as black and white, but that's not much help.

[@Bass-guitarist]

Being serious, do you think caffeine free would have the same results?

[@GavinParsons]

I have no idea tbh, Why would you want to buy caffeine free, I hope you're not thinking of drinking the stuff?

[@Bass-guitarist]

@@GavinParsons because we only have CF coffee in our house! Lol

[@hardiscodata]

Doesn’t work

[@BonsaiBrandy]

hi gavin, do you know whether you could reuse the caffenol dev?

[@GavinParsons]

I have never reused it

[@thomassicard3733]

The link to the Caffenol Cookbook Bible is broken.

[@GavinParsons]

Thanks for letting me know. I shall sort that out this week.

[@manelmanolo7195]

Ask Mr. Google. ;-)

[@pmaxjr0761]

❤ Loved

[@GavinParsons]

Thanks pmaxjr 07 :-) glad you liked it

[@dlarge6502]

Now, will this work with tea??

[@GavinParsons]

The only English use for tea is to put cow juice in and drink at 4pm with sandwiches and cake ;-)

[@jeffpettittphotography576]

Would this work in a 4X5 SP455 tank?

[@GavinParsons]

It should do, you have to be careful with agitation as it takes a bit more, but do some trials and you should get it right. Don't use it on your best shots straight away.

[@vicky197805]

Yes coffee can develop

[@randallstewart175]

This video shows excellent technique for processing. Learn how he does it, and you will be ahead of the game. Otherwise, Why? Caffenol is a chemical joke. The results in terms of image quality are (as he says) unreliable and generally poor. Unless you favor undrinkable instant coffee in the morning and wash out your clothes in "washing soda"in the evenings, you don't have the ingredients lying around the house. You can buy the chemical components of a half dozen real, reliable, as easily mixed, developers for about the same cost. When someone tries to sell you "caffenol", your reply should be "show me the images". He doesn't do that here, and there is a reason. If you examined the results, you'd wonder how you could get back the last 15 minutes of your life you just wasted.

[@GavinParsons]

Hi Randall, take a look at my 100 year old camera film (kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX-YiaqIl5mZpZo) to see the results from caffenol. I love the technique and while you can buy chemical developers, they contain some pretty nasty substances. Caffenol is basically instant coffee and washing soda with a couple of other harmless ingredients and so can be tipped away without any worries to the environment. That is the point of caffenol to me.