Develop Color Film at Home!!

In this video, RMSP Staff Instructor Jeff McLain develops some C-41 color film in his kitchen.

The digital age has afforded us every possibility in terms of editing our photos -- in a throw-back to the older technology, it can be fun to revisit old processes and experiment with shooting film again. This can become an expensive endeavor if you are sending your film out for processing and scanning, but new companies have popped up to fill the needs of 'at home' film processing and scanning and Jeff demonstrates the chemistry of one such company in this particular video.

Developing film at home has never been easier and with a small investment upfront, you can cut your costs dramatically, making shooting film an affordable and accessible endeavor.

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Gear Used for this video:

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[b]

You should put your tank in water bath between agitations. Otherwise the developer will cool down, and your colors might not be correct. This is important with developer, as in bleaching and fixing the reaction will go to the end, and process times given are made with this in mind. However, this is not the case with developer, and temperature and time must be correct. I would even recommend using a 3% acetic acid stop bath after developer to ensure that developing time is exactly 3:15. For best results, use chemistry with separate bleach and fix baths - not those "simplified powder kits" with a blix. When you maintain a good process, it is much easier with printing and/or digital post production, as color casts due to incorrect developing can be hard to correct. This is especially true if printing C-type in darkroom.

[markmozley]

Great video. I had forgotten how easy it can be.

[KathyEyster]

Excellent info and production! I have questions I'll email you.