LAB-BOX: Colour Film Developing

Picture
Lab-Box and 35mm film spool.

For colour developing I use the CineStll C-41 chemical kit to make 1 litre.
I mix the packets of powder as instructed and store them in 1 litre black opaque bottles to protect them from light and deterioration.

It's important to keep the chemicals quite separate, so I mark each bottle with coloured tape and write the name of the liquid on the tape. Yellow tape for Blix, red tape for Developer. 

As I use the chemicals, I make a note of the date and how many rolls of film.
There are instructions in the C-41 kit, outlining how many rolls of film that the 1L mix is good for.
After that you must discard it and make up another batch.
EXTRA NOTES:  Improving my process

Developing film in my Lab-Box has generally gone well, although there have been a few problems along the way.  Bit by bit I've found ways to overcome them and nowadays each roll develops pretty much perfectly.

One problem I had was in the film occasionally catching itself together at the sides as it wound onto the spool, thus not allowing the developing liquid to flow evenly through the slots of the spool and encasing the negatives. I was getting a few ruined negatives, with black or white blotches, over the frames, where the negatives had caught together.

My solution has been to attach the end of the negative to the spool clip, and not wind it onto the spool until the developer is in the tank. I clip the end of the negative to the spool clip and leave it high as shown in my photo above.  The film itself is still safely encased in the film housing so the light won't get to it. At that point I pour in the developing liquid and then I put the lid on the Lab-Box.

Now I carefully wind the film onto the spool and the developing liquid acts as a lubricant to stop the film from sticking together at any point. The key is to make sure the film is clipped squarely onto the spool winder - it must be absolutely square on. I'm finding this method to be successful and have not had any problems since following it.
➡➡ Click on the first picture and then click through for larger views.............
LAB-BOX COLOUR FILM DEVELOPING C-41

DEVELOPER & BLIX at 39 C

DEVELOPER:    500ml in Lab-Box
                           3 ½ Minutes
                           Turn knob/handle for first 10 secs then leave
                           At 3 min mark turn knob 4 secs at 30 sec intervals
                           Stop at 3 ½ mins
                           Pour Developer back into container

BLIX:                  500 ml into Lab-Box
                           8 Mins
                           Turn knob for first 10 secs then leave
                           At 7 ½ min mark turn knob 4 secs at 30 sec intervals
                           Stop at 8 mins
                           Pour Blix back into container
                           Keep a note of how many rolls of film you have used.


Film is now light safe.
Remove lid from tank.
Remove film spool side section so you are just left with the tub section.
Run cool water over the film for 3 mins.
Pour out water.

If you have another film roll to process, put completed film spool into a separate jug to run water over. Then you can begin processing the next film in the Lab-Box while the water is still washing the first film.

After washing, cover the spool/film with clean water and add stabiliser (wetting agent).
500ml water + 2 drops wetting agent.
Turn knob 30 secs
Leave to sit 30 secs
Pour off.

Attach hook clip to top end of film and other clip to bottom end and hang up to dry.

🎞 See additional notes on this Blog Page