Objectives

Chapter 5 details how to set up equipment and supplies for processing black-and-white roll film. It provides a step-by-step overview of the process and covers basic information about darkroom safety, care of darkroom supplies, and the proper use and storage of chemicals. This chapter also describes the affects development time, temperature, and agitation during development have on the negative. The importance of washing and drying negatives is discussed. Basic terminology for the evaluation of negatives is offered, and push processing is explained.

After reading this chapter you should be able to:

1. Identify the essential equipment and supplies needed to process black-and-white roll film.
2. Understand the basic procedures used in processing black-and-white roll film.
3. Understand what the chemistry does to the film and how to handle and store chemicals properly.
4. Understand how development time and temperature affect contrast and density in the negative.
5. Understand and use push processing to deal with certain conditions in the field.