Steps Involved in Film Development
Exposure - The amount of light that comes in contact with the film when the lens is opened. More exposure causes more light-sensitive silver halides in the film to react, causing a lighter picture.
Development - Converts the latent image to metallic silver to make it visible.
Fixation - Makes the image produced permanent and light-resistant. It dissolves any remaining silver halides.
Stop Bath - An acid, it works to stop the action of the developer.
Washing Process - The "pre-wash" with water allows for the gelatin layer of the film to swell. Washing after the fixer process removes any excess fixer, which could cause damage to the film. Meanwhile, perma-wash acts as a soap and also helps to clean off the film of any extra residue.
Film Composition - Photographic film consists of a sheet of plastic (polyester, PET, nitrocellulose or cellulose acetate) coated with an light-sensitive emulsion layer with different crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film. When the film is exposed to light it forms a latent image, which can then be made visible through various chemical processes.
Emulsion - A layer on one side of film that is sensitive to light and consists of silver halides suspended in gelatin. This side of the film faces the lens during exposure. Its light-sensitive particles capture and retain a "latent" image.
Agitation - Consists of gently and rhythmically moving the film container. Serves to speed up the development process and improve the quality of the images. It also prevents spotting or staining by keeping the developer, stop bath, and fixer in motion.
Temperature - In order for our photos to develop properly, the temperature of the developer had to be maintained at 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees F), through the use of boiling water and ice cubes. This was to ensure that the pH of the developer stayed extremely basic or alkaline, ideally at a pH of 11 or 12. In order for the film to develop properly, the basic developer would eventually cancel out with an acidic stop bath.
Development - Converts the latent image to metallic silver to make it visible.
Fixation - Makes the image produced permanent and light-resistant. It dissolves any remaining silver halides.
Stop Bath - An acid, it works to stop the action of the developer.
Washing Process - The "pre-wash" with water allows for the gelatin layer of the film to swell. Washing after the fixer process removes any excess fixer, which could cause damage to the film. Meanwhile, perma-wash acts as a soap and also helps to clean off the film of any extra residue.
Film Composition - Photographic film consists of a sheet of plastic (polyester, PET, nitrocellulose or cellulose acetate) coated with an light-sensitive emulsion layer with different crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film. When the film is exposed to light it forms a latent image, which can then be made visible through various chemical processes.
Emulsion - A layer on one side of film that is sensitive to light and consists of silver halides suspended in gelatin. This side of the film faces the lens during exposure. Its light-sensitive particles capture and retain a "latent" image.
Agitation - Consists of gently and rhythmically moving the film container. Serves to speed up the development process and improve the quality of the images. It also prevents spotting or staining by keeping the developer, stop bath, and fixer in motion.
Temperature - In order for our photos to develop properly, the temperature of the developer had to be maintained at 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees F), through the use of boiling water and ice cubes. This was to ensure that the pH of the developer stayed extremely basic or alkaline, ideally at a pH of 11 or 12. In order for the film to develop properly, the basic developer would eventually cancel out with an acidic stop bath.