What equipment do I need to develop film at home?

What you need for developing film at home:

1. Completely dark room or changing bag
This is needed to load your film. If you do use a changing bag, make sure there is enough space to host your developing tank as well.

2. Film opener and scissors
The film opener will help to get your film out of the canister. Alternatively you can use the scissors to crack it open. Also use scissors to cut the end of the film.

3. Developing tank and reel
Load your film onto the reel. Once you have successfully loaded the film it immediately goes inside the developing tank before you turn the light on.

4. Measuring cups
Follow the supplier’s instructions for measuring the right amount of chemistry. Prepare your developing solution in a measuring cup of one liter capacity, and do the same for the fixer. Ideally, you should have two sizes of measuring cups to be precise in your calculation.

5. Thermometer
Measure the correct temperature of your chemicals and water. All of your liquids should always be between 18° and 20° C.

6. Water
You should have access to water for washing and cleaning in between each step of development.

7. Storage bottles
Have a set of dedicated containers for each chemical, especially for fixers that can be reused multiple times.

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  • Is it cheaper to develop my own film at home?

    Yes, if you shoot a lot of film it can often be cheaper to develop it yourself at home.

  • What happens if my developer is expired?

    Using expired film developers can result in underdevelopment, over or underexposure, drastic color shifts for color film, uneven contrasts, increased grain, or an overall reduced image quality. At worst, it can also result in blank rolls.

  • Is it okay to use expired developer?

    It usually depends on storage conditions and how long ago the developer expired.

  • How long can I keep film developer before it goes bad?

    Developers can come in liquid and powder form, with liquid developers typically having a shorter shelf life than powder-form developers. Some liquid developers last about 3 to 6 months, while others can last up to a year or more if stored properly. Powder-form developers, on the other hand, can last up to 5 years.

  • How many rolls of film in a row can I self-develop?

    The answer is, as many as you want! Developing multiple films in a row is a good way to get comfortable self-developing film, especially with equipment such as the Lomo Daylight Development Tank. It all really depends on the quantity of chemicals you have and the dilution ratio for each film stock you’d like to develop.

  • How to retrieve the film leader from the canister?

    Retrieving the film leader from the canister can be a tricky endeavor, but a few tricks can help you master this important part of self-developing film!

  • How to store film developing chemicals and equipment?

    Film development chemicals should be kept out of direct sunlight to avoid deterioration. As usual, these chemicals should be kept tightly sealed at room temperature, or in a dark, dry place.

  • How to clean film developing equipment after use?

    Cleaning and taking care of your film developing equipment is easy, and important in order to ensure safety and the product’s longevity.

  • What chemicals are needed for self-developing film?

    Developer, stop bath and fixer are the three key chemicals for self-developing film. Meanwhile, other chemicals such as wetting agent are also optional to ensure a cleaner turnout.