How to Develop Black and White Film at Home 

Want to learn how to scan film? Leave us a comment below!

I was a Photo Lab professional for many years and by processing my own film and making enlargements taught me to be a much better photographer. I started at age 14 shooting at all school events and would process 2-3 rolls of film per night at times. Black + White was my specialty having the knowledge on how to do many "pushes" for film. Anyway, the video is very well done, my only comment is that I use to wash the film after developing and fixing for up to 1/2 hour and there use to be chemicals to help washing with what was called "Clearing agent". My last notation, whe I would hang the film to dry, I would hang the film straight and the "Loop" like the letter 'U' because you might get water marks at the bend, and it was not easy to clean that chemical "build up".

Yes, a video on how to scan film would be great, I have a basic all in one Canon scanner/printer. Thank you Maria.

I have been watching a lot of these and this video made the most sense.

Great refresher for me! I’d love to see how you put the negatives on a computer. Thank you!

Thank you for this! Very helpful!

Good job showing the steps. I have an old 3D camera and want to develop the negatives and then make prints for 3D viewer

As a professional I grew up developing my own film and prints long ago. It was fun for the first few months, but the smell of fixative chemistry and the endless lost hours in a darkroom get old fast. I embraced digital photography and never looked back. Don't get me wrong, I still appreciate medium and large format film quality, and a pro an do wonders with the right talent and patience.

My Dad used to develop his own B&W film and develop prints from the negatives when I was young. I am interested in the developing process for negatives since I can now scan them in. Thank you for this video. It doesn't seem hard ... just a little practice.

Thanks! You make it look easy! Can't wait to try it. Film shots are gorgeous.

Great video. Please make a follow-up video recommending a scanner for 120 film.

I had to watch this as a refresher for developing film. Also, I didn't know you could use water as your stop bath for film.

This video was a good reminder on how to develop. I used to do it at school, but never at home. I will be soon. I would love to see how to scan. I use my Epson Perfection v500... And I haven't been too happy with my results. Would love to see what the best settings would be. Thanks!

Holy heck!! I just purchased film for my camera last night! My dad gave me a film camera a few days ago. What perfect timing 😀

More Maria Please! :)

would love to see a video on scanning negatives!

Excellent video, I love to see videos from THE photography supply company! Did you ever make the video about the negative scans?

and also a next video for the process and tools to print please.

You're usually not spooling the film off the roll but you open up the original film container since it's very unusual to have the leader sticking out after you shot it.

hi, can you do a video with monobaths? (with powder version please :)

Yes, I would be interested in a video on scanning negatives with a DSLR ( and how to use Darkroom to bring them to life :-) .Many thanks for what you do.

I would be interested in a video on scanning negatives

A scanning video would be excellent

I would like you to show us on how to put them on to picture paper

Beautiful, I did this development hundreds of times. Now how to digitalize it? Please suggest a good affordable scanner. Thanks

I took photography classes before the first digital cameras came out and was wondering if people still can develop film at home. This answers my question. The school use to save the silver solution because of the number of students developing film in the lab. In my opinion digital photography took away from the craft of photography.

HEY! when you poured out the diluted developer into the jug to reuse, is it ready to just pour to develop another roll? and about how many times before you cant use it anymore?

awesome step by step video. Feel more confident in picking this up and doing it myself. is there one for color film as well? and or 110mm color and B&W film???

I feel like it should be noted that "pitch black" for the purposes of photography means no light of any kind and that fluorescent bulbs have a UV afterglow that will ruin your film. Some LED bulbs also suffer from a similar problem. Giving the bulbs a 5-10 minute "cool-down" should eliminate this afterglow.

over 50 years ago I learned the secrete to reduce grain during developing. Keep the "wet time" down during development. Film grain swells the longer it is wet. Do not per-soak before before adding developer. Use fresh developer, use developer once and then toss out. Use stop bath not water after developer. Use clearing agent after fixer, it cuts down on the wash time. Yes, this method costs more money in chemicals but you get less grain. Yes, I am an old photographer at 75 and I still say "ASA"

Thanks, Maria! ❤ How many times I can use stored solution? And does it work using distiled water instead of wetting bath?

They used to make plastic aprons to use instead of reels, which were much easier to use (to avoid the file getting twisted on the reel). Are they still available?

"Honey, What you doing here in the dark'? "Don't open the Door"!! Damn.....

Thanks I’ll find a changing bag

I'm wondering, when you adjust the concentrations or times of a developer to change the ISO of the film, say pushing HP5 (400) to be 800, do you need to expose the film in the camera at 800 as well or expose it at its natural 400 rating and its the developer alone that makes it an 800 film?

If commercial stop bath is not available, use dilute white vinegar. Worked for me for many years

good job how do i put negatives on my computer

I did have a couple of questions. How many times can the developer be used? Can the fixer be reused as well, and if so how many times? Thanks

Where are the pictures?

Yes please, scan onto computer

Last time I developed film there was no option to scan the negatives! How do I do it?

Instead of using the stop watch on your phone, use the timer which has an alarm when you reach the end of the time. Stop watch just keeps going. Count down not up.

Did we forget to show humans how to open the 35mm film canister? what 35mm film comes with the tab out? new film!

Film developing at home can have environmental impact as well as lead to issues in your home. Study before developing or making a darkroom for prints. Home with well water and septic system: Ph levels in developer and stop bath can change your ph levels in your well water. The acidic levels in stop bath can actually lower a ph in your well and affect the water that goes into your well, over time. This can lead to low ph on your home, which will damage and erode copper piping and lead to leaks in the house, and a rusted water heater. Eroding pipes can put metals in your drinking water, not safe. Septic systems themselves can also be damaged with film developing and darkroom printing . Most film companies advise against processing at home with a septic system. The running of water for long period for rinsing film and especially fiber prints can over flood your septic and cause major issues with your leaching fields and ecosystem of your septic tank. The chemistry itself can also kill enzymes in your system and cause septic back up and even tank damage. Please study the risks before processing and printing at home. If you have a well, or your neighbors have wells, and a septic system, digital is probably the way to go. There may also be laws in your neighborhood or state that prohibit film developing at home. Be advised.

Extremely helpful but painful. There is no 'undo' button if you make a mistake during the processing.

*20°c for every other person on planet earth. 20 is much easier to remember than 68. Go metric, USA.

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Can't you just wipe it dry?

Bringing your film to get developed? there's no film developing stores any other need to know someone or know how to do it yourself

This is such a toxic process and throwing it down the drain... Use a professional lab they can capture the silver and recycle it Look into developing your film with coffee, much safer.

That seem dumb to sacrifice the film. You will only spoil it if you do it like that

One more hobby I'll skip ✌️

No wonder film went obsolete

Yes please, scan onto computer