Calling all artists! Did you know you can develop film at home? It's easier than you might think.
Supplies:
* Can opener
* Scissors
* 3 mason jars
* Instant coffee (caffeinated)
* Water
* Vitamin C powder
* Washing soda
* Photo fixer
* Film developing tank with reels
* Undeveloped black & white film
Instructions:
MASON JAR 1 (DEVELOPER PT. 1)
6 ounces water
5 teaspoons instant coffee (not decaffeinated)
½ teaspoon Vitamin C powder
MASON JAR 2 (DEVELOPER PT. 2)
6 ounces water
3½ teaspoons washing soda
MASON JAR 3 (FIXER)
Mix fixer separately
9 ounces water
3 ounces fixer
WHAT TO DO:# In a darkroom or a dark bag, pop off the end of your film roll with a can opener. (Do steps 1-5 in a darkroom or bag)
# Cut off the first few inches of film with scissors.
# Thread the film through a film auto-load reel by matching up the notches and winding it all the way around.
# Cut off the end.
# Place reel inside developing tank and close the lid.
# Mix your chemicals in 3 separate mason jars. Label your jars in advance so they don’t get mixed up.
# In the first jar, combine 6 oz water, 5 tsp instant coffee, and ½ tsp Vitamin C powder.
# In the second jar, combine 6 oz water and 3½ tsp washing soda.
# In the third jar, combine 9 oz water and 3 oz photo fixer.
# Combine the first two jars together. This is your developer. The third jar is your fixer.
# Pour all of the developer into the film tank and close the lid.
# Agitate the tank for an entire minute. Then, agitate it 3 times per minute for 8 minutes. This loosens up any bubbles. After 8 minutes, pour out the developer.
# Fill the tank with water and agitate a few times before dumping it out. Do this 3 times to thoroughly rinse the film.
# Pour all of the fixer into the tank and close the lid.
# Let fixer sit for 5 minutes and agitate 3 times per minute.
# Dump out the fixer. Save it if you plan to develop film again because it is reusable.
# Rinse film the same way you did in step 13.
# Remove the film from the tank. This does not need to be done in a dark room since the film is now developed.
# Gently hang the film strip on a clothespin to let it air-dry. You may wipe off any dust with a microfiber cloth or paper towel.
# Once dry, either take the film to a professional printer or cut the film into snippets and scan and print them yourself.
