Basic Photography Course

the film vigorously in the stop bath and initially in the
fixer because gases are released in these solutions and
there is danger of air bubbles forming on the film
surface. If you allow these air bells, or bubbles, to form,
they may cause dark spots. This is due to the continued

action of the developer beneath the bubbles. Agitate the
film in the fixing bath for a few seconds and then the
safelights or the white lights may be turned on. Continue
agitating the film until it loses the cloudy or creamy
appearance. Note the time required for this change to
occur because it is just half the total required fixing time.
Agitate the film several times during the second half of
the fixing time. After the film clears, continuous
agitation is not necessary.

After fixing is completed, transfer the negative to

the wash water and continue to agitate it unless a regular
film washing tank or tray is available. After washing is
complete, the film should be treated in a wetting agent
and dried.

As stated earlier, with experience you can process

several sheets of line copy film at a time in a tray.
When processing several sheets in a tray at once, there
is an added step. This is a predevelopment rinse in
clean water that should be at the same temperature as
the rest of the processing solutions. The predevelop-

ment rinse is located to the left of the developer. Its

purpose is to prevent the films from sticking together
in the developer.

The procedure for processing more than one sheet

of line copy film at a time is the following:

1. When the solutions are ready, place a dry,

dust-free paper or cardboard on the workbench near the
predevelopment rinse. Place the exposed film holders
near this clean working space.

2. Set the timer.

3. Turn out the lights.

4. Remove one film from its holder and place it,

emulsion-side down, on the clean paper. Remove the
second film and place it, emulsion-side down, on top of
the first. Continue until all the film is placed in a loose
pile on the space provided for them.

5. Pick up the film on top of the pile with your left

hand (keep it dry until all films have been placed in the

water), drop it, emulsion-side down, into the water, and

immerse it quickly with your right hand. Pick the film
up immediately, turn it over, emulsion-side up, and push
it back under the solution. Place the wet film,
emulsion-side up, at one end of the tray. Immerse the

next film in the same manner. Stack it on top of the first

film, and continue with this procedure until all the films
are stacked in a pile at one end of the tray. Your left hand
should follow the last film into the tray to assist in the
agitation of the films.

Wet film may be handled with wet fingers.

However, be extremely careful to KEEP WET
FINGERS OFF DRY FILMS. Slight pressure with the
balls of the fingers is not harmful to a wet emulsion
unless it has swollen excessively.

The films should be agitated or shifted constantly to

prevent the individual sheets from sticking together.
Agitation is accomplished by moving the first film from
the bottom of the stack and placing it on top or by
starting a new stack at the other end of the tray. Continue

agitating the films from bottom to top until they become
completely saturated with water-about 1 or 2 minutes is
sufficient. After the emulsion is completely saturated,
the danger of films sticking together is no longer a
problem.

6. Remove the films, one at a time, from the

predevelopment rinse and immerse them in the
developer. Place the films in the developer,
emulsion-side up; slide them under the surface of the
solution quickly, and agitate them vigorously to
eliminate possible air bells. Start the timer just before
the first film is placed in the developer. Use your left
hand to remove all films from the water, and be careful
not to get the water contaminated with developer. Your
left hand should follow the last film transferred from the
water into the developer to help with the agitation.

It is important for you to locate the first sheet of film

placed in the developer quickly. To do this, align the long
dimension of all other films at a right angle to the first
sheet placed in the developer.

The films are immersed, emulsion-side up, in the

developer to reduce greater damage that would occur if
the emulsion, already softened by presoaking, were
allowed to come in contact with the bottom of the tray.
Be careful not to dig or drag the comer or edge of a film
into the emulsion surface of the film below it. Do not
allow your fingernails to touch the emulsion at any time.
Stacking films by aligning their edges against the sides
of the tray helps to reduce scratches and abrasions.

7. Agitate the films constantly, not by rocking the

tray, but by moving each film from the bottom of the
stack and placing it carefully on top, and pressing it
down gently to assure a flow of solution over its surface.
Continue this procedure until the developing time is up.

10-17

contents

Basic Photography Course

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> the film vigorously in the stop bath and initially in the fixer because gases are released in these solutions and there is danger of air bubbles forming on the film surface. If you allow these air bells, or bubbles, to form, they may cause dark spots. This is due to the continued action of the developer beneath the bubbles. Agitate the film in the fixing bath for a few seconds and then the safelights or the white lights may be turned on. Continue agitating the film until it loses the cloudy or creamy appearance. Note the time required for this change to occur because it is just half the total required fixing time. Agitate the film several times during the second half of the fixing time. After the film clears, continuous agitation is not necessary. After fixing is completed, transfer the negative to the wash water and continue to agitate it unless a regular film washing tank or tray is available. After washing is complete, the film should be treated in a wetting agent and dried. As stated earlier, with experience you can process several sheets of line copy film at a time in a tray. When processing several sheets in a tray at once, there is an added step. This is a predevelopment rinse in clean water that should be at the same temperature as the rest of the processing solutions. The predevelop- ment rinse is located to the left of the developer. Its purpose is to prevent the films from sticking together in the developer. The procedure for processing more than one sheet of line copy film at a time is the following: 1. When the solutions are ready, place a dry, dust-free paper or cardboard on the workbench near the predevelopment rinse. Place the exposed film holders near this clean working space. 2. Set the timer. 3. Turn out the lights. 4. Remove one film from its holder and place it, emulsion-side down, on the clean paper. Remove the second film and place it, emulsion-side down, on top of the first. Continue until all the film is placed in a loose pile on the space provided for them. 5. Pick up the film on top of the pile with your left hand (keep it dry until all films have been placed in the water), drop it, emulsion-side down, into the water, and immerse it quickly with your right hand. Pick the film up immediately, turn it over, emulsion-side up, and push it back under the solution. Place the wet film, emulsion-side up, at one end of the tray. Immerse the next film in the same manner. Stack it on top of the first film, and continue with this procedure until all the films are stacked in a pile at one end of the tray. Your left hand should follow the last film into the tray to assist in the agitation of the films. Wet film may be handled with wet fingers. However, be extremely careful to KEEP WET FINGERS OFF DRY FILMS. Slight pressure with the balls of the fingers is not harmful to a wet emulsion unless it has swollen excessively. The films should be agitated or shifted constantly to prevent the individual sheets from sticking together. Agitation is accomplished by moving the first film from the bottom of the stack and placing it on top or by starting a new stack at the other end of the tray. Continue agitating the films from bottom to top until they become completely saturated with water-about 1 or 2 minutes is sufficient. After the emulsion is completely saturated, the danger of films sticking together is no longer a problem. 6. Remove the films, one at a time, from the predevelopment rinse and immerse them in the developer. Place the films in the developer, emulsion-side up; slide them under the surface of the solution quickly, and agitate them vigorously to eliminate possible air bells. Start the timer just before the first film is placed in the developer. Use your left hand to remove all films from the water, and be careful not to get the water contaminated with developer. Your left hand should follow the last film transferred from the water into the developer to help with the agitation. It is important for you to locate the first sheet of film placed in the developer quickly. To do this, align the long dimension of all other films at a right angle to the first sheet placed in the developer. The films are immersed, emulsion-side up, in the developer to reduce greater damage that would occur if the emulsion, already softened by presoaking, were allowed to come in contact with the bottom of the tray. Be careful not to dig or drag the comer or edge of a film into the emulsion surface of the film below it. Do not allow your fingernails to touch the emulsion at any time. Stacking films by aligning their edges against the sides of the tray helps to reduce scratches and abrasions. 7. Agitate the films constantly, not by rocking the tray, but by moving each film from the bottom of the stack and placing it carefully on top, and pressing it down gently to assure a flow of solution over its surface. Continue this procedure until the developing time is up. 10-17 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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