Processing Negatives | A Step-by-Step Guide to Processing Your Own Film

Inside a lab hidden within HARMAN Technology, Amy finds out how ILFORD black and white prints are made. In this video, Neil shows Amy the HARMAN LAB’s development process. He demonstrates what materials are used, and reveals a few specialist tips and tricks along the way.
Keep an eye out for part two, when Neil takes the processed negatives and shows Amy how to create a print.
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[@jonathanbaxter4366]

Absolutely invaluable information, perfect example of why not to follow photograph forums as they can always lead to more confusion. Thank you Ilford for this instructive video, Can`t wait to process my first film.

[@steves563]

It's kind of funny watching this... I rolled and developed my B&W film for probably over 20 years and never used gloves or goggles! And the opening and cutting of the film was done by either smacking the canister (long end of the spool down) on the table to get the end off or prying the can open with my fingers and just tearing the film instead of cutting it with scissors or retrieving or leaving the end of the film out when rewinding so I could cut it before putting it on the reel then tear at the end. Loved the Patterson tanks! I could use the stainless if need be but the spool that walked the film on and being able to use the same reel for 120 was great! Interesting that they didn't use a Photoflo solution (or whatever Ilford called theirs) before they hung the film to dry, guess they have really soft water there! Good Times! I never had that scary music playing either!

[@Dark_Viking]

That's a really interesting and useful video. Thanks!

[@andyvan5692]

Amy, some terms: what he asked you to do at 10:31 was, obviously invertion, turning the tank upside down, then right side up again ; the other term used in this process is ajitation, in the 'dunking tanks' this means (in the dark) lifting and lowering the holders, or in spiral tanks ( in the light, as the funnel acts as a light baffel), using the 'twizzle stick' (an axle which mates to the spool inside the tank through the funnel opening) turning slowly round and round.

[@mudgie069]

I find if you don't roll the film all the way in the canister you can start the film loading (by pulling the film to the ball bearings on the reel) you can do this in the light before you put the film in the bag or darkroom. This is by far the easiest way of getting the film onto the reel before you completely reel the rest of the film in the dark. I've been doing it this way for years and saved me hours of frustration. I come to this conclusion because usually at least 12-16" of the film is exposed to light when you load the film into the camera and it's way less film getting it onto a reel so there is no possibility of ruining the film.

[@nathan_woodgate]

Very interesting, I noticed that no squeegee was used prior to hanging the film, is this to prevent damage? Will tap water leave marks on the film as it dries?

[@randallstewart175]

If you use distilled water to avoid hard water chemical deposits, and if you add something like PhotoFlo in the very small amount directed (or less), then you can expect no deposits or water marks on your dried film. No squeegee is used because with a few uses or standing out on a sink, they pick up dust, dirt, etc., and risk scratching your film. If you use a final wash as I suggest, the water runs off so quickly when the film is hung, that a squeegee is useless anyway.

[@andyvan5692]

I notice a difference here between the Ilford processing video, where they used 600 ml for the final volume of the solutions, and here, where 300 ml was used, is there a difference in the tanks size?, or is this volume printed on the tank somewhere?- and does this vary by much, depending on what tank/loader style or brand you choose?

[@andyvan5692]

Amy, these are called "spiral tanks" due to some 4x5" and larger film tanks like the steerman Press SP45 and others, which essentially are like a car radiator, a bucket, a lid with two caps, and two holders which dunk inside the tank simmilar to files in a filing cabinet, these are NOT spirals, but 'dunking' tanks- named adeptly due to the way you 'agitate' the film inside, like a teabag drawing, NOT round and round, like Peterson spool tanks.

[@andyvan5692]

Amy a safer way to get the leader out is to use a "leader retriever" ; a flat object with two tongues which pop out, one leads the tool in, the others vice the tongue and pull, easy, and NO sharps involved!!- great for kids, or disabled/less abled people, dexterity wise.

[@WexPhotoVideo]

Thanks for sharing this tip!

[@andywhiteside16]

when are you going to show part 2

[@rogmic]

I have done hundreds of films in tanks like that & tried many combinations of chemicals & developing timings

[@AlexLancashirePersonalView]

I used to do this when I was a lad in the 50s. Used to load the film under the bed clothes. Had the window and the door of the toilet blacked out working on a board over the toilet bowl. Sadly, I do not have any of my photos left.

[@alessandroserrao9422]

No Ilfotol?

[@thiyagarajan1989]

How Hard those days - in Film Photography .... thats why Professionalisim there and Cameras were valuable those who had... Now a days after digital came ......and mobile came its useless ...1 year old baby accidently press the shutter button and take the picture where is professional-lisim