At 11:40 AM 13/12/2002 +0000, Alan Wood wrote:
[snip]
For developing a film, you also need:
gadget to get the end off the cassette
A better way to do that, IMNSHO, is to rewind the film such that the
"tongue" is still sticking out when you open the film back. Cut the film
tongue off, leaving a blunt, square edge. Put two small snips through the
film at 45 degree angles to the edges. Your film edge coming out of the
canister should look like this:
-----------
\
|
|
|
/
-----------
Then you can load it into the developing reel in a black bag or darkroom,
and when you're finished, just snip the far end off with a pair of
scissors. No messy prying open the 35mm cassette in the dark! (Way less
chance of handling the picture-bearing sections of the film with your
fingers, too...).
The above solution is used by so many people that there's now a gadget on
the market which helps retrieve the end of the film if you accidentally
wind it all the way back into the cassette. I've had to use this a couple
of times. :-/
thermometer
Critical! Don't skimp, get a good-quality easy-to-read glass one (or if
you're flush with cash, a digital) specifically designed for development
work. Ilford or Paterson makes a really good one. Time and temperature
are your friends if done right and your worst enemies if done wrong...
big measuring cylinder (big enough for the volume your developing tank
needs)
small measuring cylinder (for accurately measuring the undiluted chemicals)
bowl to fill with water at the temperature of the developer, to keep the
tank at the right temperature
squeegee, to remove excess water after the final rinse
You can also use a soft, lint-free cotton cloth that's been moistened and
thoroughly wrung out to do this. Prior to doing this, I'd give the film a
final dunking in a solution of PhotoFlo or the Ilford equivalent (the name
of which escapes me at the moment). Helps prevent spot formation. If your
water's really hard, the final dunking can be in a solution of PhotoFlo and
distilled water rather than regular tap water.
somewhere dust-free to hang the developed film while it dries
Yep. For a few moments while it's drying, the gelatin emulsion's really
sticky, and can attract dust like crazy. It's a short time window, but
critical.
I'd add "weights," which you clip to the free end of your drying film
strips to keep the entire strip from curling up (or blowing around too
much) as they dry. You can buy custom-made weights, or make your own out
of alligator/butterfly clips (office supplies).
bottles to keep stop and fix - you can use them again
In an emergency, stop bath can be made out of white vinegar (it's acetic
acid, after all). Dilute it one part vinegar to four parts water, and
immerse the film for twenty to thirty seconds. If all else fails, you can
also use several changes of plain water in quick succession.
Garth
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