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  Photography Forum: Darkroom Techniques Forum: 
  Q. New to 120 Developing - What to Do?

Asked by Christopher Robinson    (K=139) on 2/18/2006 
I'm new to 120 developing... am I supposed to tear off the paper before rolling the negatives onto the developing tank reel?

Thanks!


    


Helen Bach
 Helen Bach   (K=2331) - Comment Date 2/19/2006
Hi Christopher,

If it is 120 then as you unroll the backing paper in the dark you will come to the loose end of the film itself - it isn't attached to the paper at the end because this was the trailing end when the film went through the camera. Feed the end of the film onto the reel and let the paper curl up separately. When you come to the end of the film, tear it off the backing paper - this end is attached, as it was the leading end when the film went through the camera.

220 film is different. Both ends are attached to the paper leaders.

Best,
Helen





 Christopher Robinson   (K=139) - Comment Date 2/19/2006
Thanks, Helen!

I really appreciate your advice! I'll try doing it right, this next time. :-)
Cheers,
Christopher





 ann clancy   (K=2014) - Comment Date 2/19/2006
You might find an old roll of film or buy an outdated roll of film and practice loading in the light first; then close your eyes and load the film unti things become comfortable.

Have fun.





 Christopher Robinson   (K=139) - Comment Date 2/19/2006
Hi Ann, Thanks. No such luck with old/outdated film. But that's okay. At $3.15/roll I'll work that much harder to make it right. My first roll was a TMax, which I hear is harder than most to develop correctly. Most of the frames turned out well, there were just some in the middle that looked like they had wiped off. I had either: 1) messed those up with the negative film backing paper, which could have acted as a sponge that soaked up the middle pictures, or 2) agitated to furiously during one of the cycles, or 3) messed up on the timing in one of the chemical phases. I have a hard time counting on tempo. I either need a metronome for the darkroom, or some kind of timer that goes off every 30 seconds... that emits no light.

How do you all time your phases? Good old-fashioned one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two...one-thousand-five-hundred-and-forty? Keeping verbal count just doesn't seem to be the most reliable.

Surely, there must be a trick? :-D

Thanks!
Christopher





 Christopher Robinson   (K=139) - Comment Date 2/19/2006
Hi Helen,

Your advice was so good, I have one more question for you. :-)
What's the best way to keep count/time of each phase of development? I'm not the best one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand,... counter in the world. Is there some kind of timing device that you use to keep track of the time... that doesn't emit light?

Thanks!
Christopher




Helen Bach
 Helen Bach   (K=2331) - Comment Date 2/19/2006
Hi Christopher,

I've always used daylight tanks for 120 so I've just watched a clock or timer. Same in the dark for tray development - use a timer with luminous hands some distance from the film or facing away from the film or one of the process timers such as the R H Designs one. Some people have audio timers, or use some other kind of kind of audio prompt - like a recording.

Best,
Helen




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