What equipment do I need to develop film at home?

Q: What equipment do I need to develop film at home?

You will need: A changing bag, developing tank, reels, developing solution, fixer, hypo cleaning agent, access to water, clips, timer, thermometer, and measuring cups.

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.
How to load film onto a developing reel?

Clip the start of your film to the developing reel, then rotate the reel while the film feeds itself onto the spiral until the whole film is in place.
What is the easiest way to develop color film at home?

It is sometimes said that color film is more difficult to develop at home than black and white film. However, with a bit of practice developing color film is a simple enough process. Here’s how it’s done.
Can I still develop expired film?

Yes, in most cases expired film can still be developed normally. Though there may be some visible degradation noticeable in the final images, depending on how many years the film has expired by, as well as the conditions it has been stored in.
How to safely dispose of film developing chemicals

The best way to dispose of your chemicals is to discharge them at your city’s waste collection point.
Why is black and white film easier to develop at home than color film?

The steps involved in developing color film are more complicated than with black and white, and temperature control is also a key part of the process.
How to develop black and white film at home

Load your film in the dark, prepare your solution at 20℃, pour developer for the desired amount of time, wash, pour the fixer for the desired amount of time, wash with hypo solution, and hang to dry.
Can you develop film without a darkroom?

Yes, however the spooling of your film must be performed in the dark.