Jeff Ryan Studio

FILM DEVELOPING / LOADING PROCESS

35MM FORMAT FILM

Things that you need to do loading of film into the developing tank…

1. Film developing Canister
2. Changing Bag (or some people called it Darkbag)
3. Your exposed film
4. A pair of scissors

There are many makers of the film developing canisters in the market. The common brands are Kaiser, AP, Paterson, Jobo etc.

Most of the canisters comes with at least one film loading spindle. However, AP and Kaiser ones comes with 2. Each spindle is capable of adapted to be used for loading a roll of 35mm or 127mm or 120mm format film.

Steps of loading film into Canister:

From this point onwards, all the below process is done in absolute darkness in the darkroom or in the enclosed darkness of the a changing bag.

1. You need to first prepare your exposed film. You will need to trim the end of the film and trim it to a slight rounded edge at the corner as shown in the picture below. The rounded edge ensures that the loading have lesser resistance and prevent scratches to your negative during the loading.

2. Next put the film developing canister and the prepared, exposed film into the changing bag.

3. In the changing bag, feel for the end of the film and fit it into the loading tongue on the loading spindle.

4. The ball bearing on the spindle will “grip” the edge of the film and allow it to be lodged in place for continued loading.

5. With a movement back and forth on the loading spindle, the film will be slowly “feed” into the spindle automatically. Pull a length out from the film canister as you load on. Do not pull the entire film out of the film canister as it may get scratched or crumpled during the loading process.

6. At the end of the roll of film, use a scissors to cut the ends and allow the entire roll of film to be fed into the spindle completely.

7. Still in the darkness, put the completely rolled spindle into the film developing canister.

8. After putting on the lid of the developing canister, the canister can be taken out of the changing bag and proceed with the developing process using the chemicals.

Medium format 120mm Film

Essentially the steps for medium format 120mm film and 35mm film are the same. The only thing is the need to adjust the spindle to allow it to take the loading of the 120mm film. The height of the spindle can be adjusted with a twist on the blades of the spindle to adjust it to either 35mm, 127mm or 120mm format film negative.

The only big difference is that 35mm have small notches along the edge of the film that the ball bearing can “grip” on. Whereas in 120mm format film, such feature is absent. However, the ball bearing is still able to “grip” onto the edge of the 120mm film even though the small notches are not present.

All images and materials copyright of 2008 © Jeffrey Yap of ww.jeffryanstudio.com. Any unauthorized copying and distribution without permission will be prosecuted.