Developing film yourself – how does it work?

Analog photography naturally includes developing your film rolls. You can have this done professionally, but many analogue photographers still choose to do it themselves. Please note: this is a very precise process. If it feels like too much work, no problem — we are happy to develop your film rolls and slides for you.

There is a difference between developing black-and-white film and colour film (also known as C-41). Black-and-white film is usually developed at 20°C, while the C-41 process runs at 38°C. In general: the higher the temperature, the shorter the development time.

But where do you actually start, and what do you need? Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide to developing film.

What do you need?

What do you need to develop a film roll? We’re happy to explain.

  • Of course, you’ll need a finished roll of film!
  • A light-tight, or completely dark, room is essential. Don’t have access to a dark room? You can also use a light-tight changing bag. If you prefer to have your negatives developed elsewhere, you can also use darkrooms (doka’s) at locations such as CAFU. You may even take courses there about developing film or printing negatives.
  • In a small, dark space, you can then load the film onto reels and place it into the developing tank. These reels are often included with the developing tank. Make sure they are compatible with the correct type of film before loading the film onto the reel.
  • During development you work with chemicals
  • To mix, pour back, and bring these solutions to the correct temperature, you’ll need a measuring jug, funnel, and thermometer.
  • Once you have developed your negatives and remove them from the developing tank, they will be wet. It is important to remove the water using, for example, a squeegee. This helps prevent stains on your negatives while they dry. Never use your fingers or a kitchen sponge, as this can cause greasy marks and damage.
  • To keep your workspace reasonably dry and clean, it’s useful to have a towel on hand.
  • To dry your negatives, you can use a clothesline and clothespins.
  • Also important: the chemicals! Along with your film, these are the key ingredients. As a beginner, you can choose to use a kit. Such a development kit contains everything you need. Once you gain more experience, you can move on to more complex development processes.
  • Whatever method you use, you will always need bottles to store the chemical solutions. It is recommended not to use regular plastic bottles, but bottles specifically designed for this purpose. These are sturdier, can withstand higher temperatures, and are resistant to sometimes aggressive chemicals. Because they are made of opaque, dark plastic, the solutions also stay usable for longer.
  • Label your bottles clearly — you don’t want to accidentally mix up solutions later. These bottles often come with writable labels.

Getting started!

Now that you know what you need, it’s time to get started. How do you remove a film roll and develop it? We explain everything step by step below.

  • Take your film out of the cartridge in complete darkness. Keep in mind that even your phone’s light can damage the film.
  • Make sure you have a screwdriver and the developing tank within reach. Scissors and a film opener are only needed for 35mm film.
  • In the dark, wind the film onto a reel. This is the trickiest part — try practising a few times with your eyes closed.
  • Once the film is on the reel, place it into the developing tank. Close the lid tightly so it becomes light-tight. You can then turn the light back on.
  • Now it’s time to develop the film using the developer — exciting! What will the results look like? It can be useful to do some online research at this stage. There are various websites with information about film development and developers. Look for “develop charts” as well.
  • You can find different develop charts online for each type of film, where you specify what you are using: developer, fixer, and stop bath.
  • Mix the chemicals. You can also do this in step 1, but every photographer has their own workflow. Some prefer this order: mixing, preparing, loading film onto reel, placing reel in tank, then pouring chemicals. Either way, the chemicals are just as important as the film itself.
  • You can also use a kit. A kit contains everything you need, gives good results, and is affordable. Once you gain more experience, you can move on to more advanced development processes.
  • After that, hang the film up to dry using a clothesline. Make sure to attach a clip at the bottom of the film so the weight keeps it straight. Then it’s just a matter of waiting for the magic to happen. What will the final result look like?
  • Once the film is dry, you can either crop the images or scan and digitise them. In our blog full of analogue photography tips, you can read more about the advantages and possibilities of scanning and digitising.

To a specialist

You can of course also have your film developed elsewhere, such as at our stores. On this webpage you’ll find more information about the Kamera Express photo service.

Analogue photographer and former Kamera Express sales employee Patrick Dreuning explains that he develops black-and-white film at home, but prefers to outsource colour film. His reason: “Colour film needs to be kept at a constant temperature. With black-and-white film, you can work within a temperature range of 18 to 26 degrees. That’s often the standard room temperature in most homes and therefore more accessible.”

For unusual formats and exposed sprocket holes, you can visit Lomolab.

Keep learning

All in all, there is still a lot to discover in the field of (self) film development. If you want to dive deeper, exploring the internet will already get you quite far.

Traditionally, photographers learned the craft by simply doing it and observing the workflow of experienced analogue photographers. On a developed film roll, you can see the results and learn what worked and what didn’t.

Spending a day shadowing an analogue photographer or a photo specialist will also greatly expand your knowledge.