How to Develop Film at Home Step by Step

Despite the many digital cameras available today, there are still a select few who cling to the glory days of film photography and prefer to use analog SLRs or film cameras. Film developing and processing labs have dwindled in number ever since digital photography came around, so you may find it difficult to find one in your area. The next best option? Learn how and where to develop film and make your own high quality prints in the comfort of your own home, office, or studio.

In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about developing your own film at home.

In film photography, also known as analog, photographers capture images via thin plastic film strips. Photographers create those images in the field like you would with a digital camera, but instead of the image saving to an SD card, it's cemented onto a film roll, which photographers then process in a dark room to produce the final photograph.

Film photography can be significantly more expensive than digital given the film costs, but it does deliver some can't-beat perks, such as a higher dynamic range, softer-looking images, and a more interesting film-grain texture. Film photography also requires a bit more intentionality than digital photography; once you take the image, it's captured on film, so each press of the trigger matters.

Photographers hoping to try out film developing don't need a lot of equipment to get started. You can either develop your film in a darkroom or with the use of a developing tank.

Contrary to popular belief, it isn't as complicated to set up your own darkroom. All you need is a room with all light sources blocked, a changing bag, and equipment and chemicals for the dry and wet side of the process.

If you don't want to bother with building a dark room, you can opt to use a developing tank instead. There are two sizes available: one that can hold a 35mm roll of film, and one that can hold a 120 or 220 film. Choose according to the size that you need. Or, if you want more flexibility in size, get both.

Photography enthusiasts have developed black-and-white film at home with ease for decades. It's often helpful to have a dedicated, specific workstation for performing the various steps and storing your supplies. Collect all of your supplies and take it step by step, and you’ll get the hang of it faster than you’d expect.

The procedure may vary depending on the brand, but usually you’ll need to fill a bottle with 75% of the required amount of water, add the concentrated chemical or powder mix, then pour in the rest of the water required.

If you’re after longevity, use dark opaque bottles with narrow necks to store your solution. To avoid waste, make sure you only mix what you can see yourself using in the next few days.

Before using your mixtures, let them sit in room temperature overnight to ensure that the chemicals sit well together.

A film changing bag is basically a "mini darkroom." It provides you with a light-free environment where you can safely transfer the film from the canister to the reel in the tank.

Grab your changing bag and carefully load the church key, scissors, film tank, and film canister inside the bag. Then, zip it closed and put both of your arms through the elastic arm openings.

Use the church key to remove the bottom of the film canister (the flat side).

Use your scissors to cut the film leader (this is about three inches of film at the beginning of the reel) off, discard it, then cut the corners off of the remaining film to help it glide through the reel easily.

It's time to load the reel. Follow the instructions that came with the box when doing this, and make sure not to go against the natural curve of the film as you’re wrapping it around the reel. Once you’ve loaded the entire roll, cut off the plastic reel at the end. Place the reel back in the tank and close the lid.

Make sure that the tank is properly closed and light-tight before opening the changing bag and removing all your tools.

This part is crucial so to avoid any air bubbles that may form on your film. Place your developing tank in the sink to pre-wash your film (make sure that the water is room temperature or close). Turn on the faucet and let the water fill the tank. Once it has been filled to the brim, turn the faucet off.

Nudge the tank from side to side several times for a few seconds, then discard the water.

Use the guide on the side of the tank to get the proper proportion of developer you need for your film. Before filling it up, make sure your developer is at the proper temperature required by the manufacturer. Place your tank in the sink and pour in the required amount of developer. Allow to soak for 6 and ½ minutes. Shake the tank gently from side to side 10 times every 30 seconds. Do this continuously as you near the last 30 seconds of the process. Once at the end, pour out the developer under running water.

Add the stop bath immediately after the developer has been completely discarded from the tank. Shake vigorously and continuously for 15 to 20 seconds. Then, pour out the stop bath under running water.

Once you’ve poured out all of the stop bath, add the fixer to the film in the tank, shake continuously for 30 seconds, then discard the chemical under running water.

Place the tank back in the sink and flush water through it. Remove the lid and allow the water to wash over the reel. Plunge the reel in and out of the tank every now and then. After two minutes, turn the faucet off.

Take the film out of the reel and hang in a contaminant-free environment. If you’re in a hurry, you can use a film squeegee to prevent water spots and speed up drying time. Let the film dry completely.

Developing colored film is trickier than its black and white counterpart because the chemicals used for this process are more temperature-sensitive. Thus, we have prepared a brief guide on how to mix these properly.

Blix, or bleach and fix, combines the bleaching and fixing process together in one single step. To make your solution, replace the developer in the steps above and follow the same procedure.

Just as you would with a black and white film, you’ll need to use a changing bag to process your color film without damage. You’ll also need to place the same tools inside: a church key, scissors, your roll of film, and your development tank.

Then you can proceed to the process of cutting the film.

Feed the film a few inches into the outer tip of the spool at the beginning of the spiral. Once you feel that the film is secure enough, twist the sides of the reel back and forth. Remember to keep your supporting hand steady while your other hand twists the right side of the reel forward. Then, rotate the reel back. Continue doing this until all the film is in.

If you’re using a 120 film, you’ll need to remove the end from the backing paper upon reaching its end. If you’re using a 35mm film, you’ll need to cut off its end instead.

Cut the film with a pair of scissors or a sharp knife. Wrap in glassine paper if desired.

Photo developing doesn't have to be intimidating. Knowing how to develop film is an important skill for any film photographer to have. It allows you to have full control over the outcome of your pictures and helps you save money on specialized film developing labs.

Also, you may even find it rewarding and therapeutic.

Like most things, the length of time undeveloped film can last depends on a few things: the type of film, how it's stored, and the types of conditions it's been exposed to. For example, extreme heat can significantly affect the lifespan of film, while cold can help it stay longer. Many experts agree film is OK for up to two or three years, although it's best to get film developed as soon as possible—often within six months—so you don't sacrifice the quality of the final product. Our good rule of thumb? Follow the manufacturer's "best if used by" guidelines.

Absolutely! Developing film in a lab is often the easier, less stressful (and less time-intensive) option, but many photographers develop their film at home, and you can, too. You’ll need supplies like a developing tank (essential for preventing light from sneaking in and exposing the film) or dark room, reels, graduates, clips, and chemicals. It's also important to study up on exactly what type of film you’re trying to develop, and how industry pros suggest doing it. Additionally, keep in mind that black-and-white and color film development require different approaches, so know the aesthetic you’re going for before beginning the development process.

Once you acquire the necessary supplies to develop film at home, the costs are surprisingly low, especially compared to the costs of a digital photography hobby. The only items you’ll need to replenish and replace over time are the chemicals and the film itself.

Many enthusiasts prefer to buy assembled kits, while others like to shop for each item individually. Purchasing used darkroom equipment and developing gear is a great way to give new life to someone else's equipment while saving money upfront. Just make sure any items you purchase are complete and in good working order. Chemicals also tend to weaken over time, so it's a good idea to start fresh with new sealed bottles.

Over time you’ll start to amass a large collection of negatives. It's a good idea to come up with a storage solution that you can keep organized and in good condition as your collection grows. Most photographers prefer to trim the negatives down into strips of a few frames, so they can be stored flat more easily.

Then, you can slip your negative strips into specially-designed plastic sleeves to be stored in a box or binder. Make sure to label your sleeves so you can find negatives more easily in the future. Store binders in a cool, dry place for the best protection over time.

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