Find your film development recipe

Everything you need to know about film development

How long does it take to develop black and white film?

Development times typically range from 4 to 20 minutes, depending on the film, developer, dilution, and temperature. At the standard 20°C (68°F), most combinations fall between 8–12 minutes. High-dilution developers like Rodinal 1+100 can require 20+ minutes. Use the recipe finder above to get the exact time for your specific combination.

What temperature should I develop film at?

The industry standard development temperature is 20°C (68°F). All recipe times in this library are shown at 20°C by default. Higher temperatures shorten development time and can increase grain; lower temperatures require more time. Each recipe card includes a time/temperature compensation table covering 18°C to 24°C.

What does developer dilution mean?

Dilution is the ratio of developer concentrate to water. 'Stock' means undiluted. '1+50' means 1 part developer per 50 parts water. More dilute solutions (e.g. Rodinal 1+100) typically produce finer grain and longer times; stock or 1+1 solutions work faster. One-shot developers like Rodinal are discarded after use; D-76 stock solution can be reused within the manufacturer's stated capacity.

What is push and pull processing?

Push processing means developing film as if it were shot at a higher ISO than its rated speed (e.g. rating Tri-X 400 at ISO 1600), then extending development time to compensate. This increases grain and contrast. Pull processing is the opposite: rating film lower and reducing development time. The ISO selector in the recipe finder shows push and pull options for each film/developer combination.

Can I develop 35mm film at home?

Yes — black and white film is one of the most accessible darkroom processes. You need a light-tight developing tank (such as Paterson or Jobo), a changing bag or darkroom to load the film, and three chemicals: developer, stop bath, and fixer. The process takes 30–60 minutes and requires no special equipment beyond a thermometer and measuring cups. Colour negative film (C-41) can also be done at home but requires precise temperature control at 38°C.

Which developer should I choose for 35mm film?

D-76 (or its equivalent ID-11) is the classic all-rounder: fine grain, moderate acutance, and widely documented. Rodinal is a one-shot, highly dilutable developer known for sharp edge acutance and long shelf life. HC-110 is another concentrate popular for its versatility. For the finest grain, consider XTOL or Perceptol. Many photographers start with D-76 or HC-110 and experiment from there.

How many rolls can I develop in one batch of developer?

It depends on whether you are using a one-shot or reusable developer. One-shot developers like Rodinal and HC-110 (diluted) are used once and discarded. Reusable developers like D-76 stock solution can handle multiple rolls, but capacity varies — typically 1–2 rolls per 500ml. Always follow the manufacturer's capacity guidelines.

Why is a development time listed for one film format (e.g. 35mm) but not another (e.g. 120)?

Some manufacturers publish separate data for each format, while others publish a single time that applies to all. If no time is listed for your format, use the time given for another format as your starting point — in practice, the vast majority of films develop for the same time regardless of format.

What should I do if I find two conflicting times for the same film/developer combination?

When two times conflict, use the longer one as your starting point. Discrepancies often arise from outdated data, different testing conditions, or user-reported corrections. A well-known example: the published time for Kodak Tri-X in HC-110 (Dilution B) is 3 minutes, but extensive field experience shows 4.5–6 minutes to be more accurate. Always treat any single time as a guideline and test with your own setup.

Can I use times intended for a Jobo or rotary processor with a hand-held inversion tank (and vice versa)?

Yes, with a simple adjustment. Times listed for rotary processors can be increased by approximately 15% as a starting point for hand-held inversion tanks. Conversely, standard inversion-agitation times can be reduced by approximately 15% for use with Jobo or other continuous-agitation processors.

Are the development times for D-76 and ID-11 interchangeable?

D-76 (Kodak) and ID-11 (Ilford) are nearly identical in formula. Any starting-point time for one is a reliable guide for the other. Where both are published, Ilford's times for Ilford films in ID-11 are generally preferred as they have undergone the most thorough in-house testing.

Why aren't colour film development times film-specific?

Colour negative film (C-41) and colour slide film (E-6) use a standardised process where development time is set by the chemistry, not the film. In standard C-41 processing, development time is set by the chemistry, not the film; the same applies to E-6, though small deviations are possible. Always follow the time recommended by your chemical kit manufacturer. Any colour film times you encounter in development databases refer to cross-processing — deliberately developing colour film in black-and-white chemistry to produce a monochrome negative.