
What happens if you under-develop your film?
If you under-develop the film because you've used an old developer and haven't compensated for this with longer development time, then there's nothing you can do about it. After fixing, you can't go back and give it another go in the developer. Your negative will be thin, and you won't be able to get decent contrast in the final print.
How long does film last before it goes bad?
While Kodak recommends processing within a day or two, most modern films are unlikely to lose detail or change colors so long as they are processed within six months or before the film’s expiration date. If you plan to leave the film longer, it will be best to store it in the freezer.
What happens if you leave hair dye in too long?
If you leave hair dye in too long without rinsing your hair after the specified time, you may end up with a color that is darker than the one you wanted, or worse, over-processed and brittle hair that might look unnatural, also known as a wig effect.
How long does it take for the film to be fixed?
Some film products require a longer fixing time to others, but typically our ILFORD and Kentmere films will be fully fixed within 2-5 minutes. If a film is still milky/cloudy – return the film into fixer and check again until its fully cleared. If it does not clear it is likely that the fixer is not effective and needs replacing.

How long do you leave film in developer?
Therefore, 15 seconds before the 12-minute mark is reached, start to pour the developer out of the tank. The timer should come to 12 minutes just as you finish pouring.
What does poorly developed film look like?
A well exposed negative that has been underdeveloped will result in a flat lifeless print. These negatives have lots of detail in the shadows and in the highlights but the negative appears "flat" and has a lifeless and grey appearance overall caused by the poor separation of the tones describing the scene.
How long should you let film develop?
The total process time it takes to develop your film should be around 5 minutes. You'll want to agitate your film gently. During the first 30 seconds of the development, you should agitate the film constantly to ensure that the film is soaked thoroughly into the chemicals.
What can go wrong when developing film?
Common Film & Scan Issues (and What You Can Do About Them)UNDEREXPOSED FILM. THE PROBLEM: Your negative was exposed to light for too short a time to record a well-defined image on the film. ... OVEREXPOSED FILM. ... OBSTRUCTION IN YOUR CAMERA. ... OBSTRUCTION IN THE FILM SCANNER. ... LIGHT LEAKS. ... FOGGING. ... FLARES. ... LOOSE FILM ROLL.More items...
Why are my film photos so hazy?
The most common reasons that lead to unsharp film photos are motion blur, caused by using too slow a shutter speed; missed focus, caused by not having enough depth of field to work with; and underexposure, caused by not exposing for the shadows.
How do I know if my film developer is bad?
1:424:00How to Test Film Developer and Fixer - Black and White ChemicalsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you just want to drop it in the developer. Give it a couple minutes if the developer isn'tMoreAnd you just want to drop it in the developer. Give it a couple minutes if the developer isn't exhausted it'll go to like 100%. Black you know it'll darken up you'll see that okay it is developing.
How long does 35mm film last undeveloped?
What You Need to Know About Expired Film. Most negative and movie films have an expiration date. This is typically about two years after the month of manufacture, which is actually a “best if used by” date.
Can you develop a 25 year old film?
Yes. Old film doesn't go bad all at once – colors shift, contrast fades away, and fog builds up.
How long does 35mm film take to develop?
7 to 10 daysDisposable camera and 35mm film prints are available in as little as 7 to 10 days. All other types of film are usually ready in approximately three weeks.
Why is my film blank after developing?
The most common reason for a roll of film to be blank is a loading mishap or simply bringing an unused roll of film to the lab for processing. We can help you load your camera in ways that will almost completely eliminate the chance of this happening.
What overdeveloped film looks like?
Overdeveloped negatives make grainy prints that are burned out in the highlights with unusually vigorous shadow detail. Prints from these negatives look a bit like a photocopy. This print shows the effects of overdevelopment. The dresses of the girls are blown out and almost unprintable.
Why did my film turn out black?
Film is Black After Developing If the film comes out completely black then you have a light leak in your camera or you somehow exposed the film to light before it was properly developed and fixed. If you take a roll of film on vacation, particularly if you fly, don't let your film go through an x-ray.
What does underexposed film look like?
What Is Underexposure? Underexposure is the result not enough light hitting the film strip or camera sensor. Underexposed photos are too dark, have very little detail in their shadows, and appear murky.
How do you know if a film is overexposed?
An overexposed negative will look dark. For some photographers, minor amounts of overexposure can be an intentional stylistic decision that increases saturation and contrast. However, extreme overexposure will give you increased grain, low contrast, and dull, gray highlights.
How do you know if a film is developed?
For APS 35mm film, check for the 4 numbers on the top or bottom of the canister. If the number 3 has a white “x” next to it then it has been exposed and ready for development. For 120 or 220 film (medium format) look to see if the word “exposed” is visible. If so, then the film has most likely been used.
How do you know if a film is loaded properly?
0:002:50How to Check if Film is Loaded - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRelease just flip up the rewind crank. And give it a couple of gentle. Turns just to see if you hitMoreRelease just flip up the rewind crank. And give it a couple of gentle. Turns just to see if you hit any tension.
What happens if you leave a film in the developer too long?
If you leave the film in the developer too long, the film is overdeveloped. The result of over development is increased contrast, along with increased density in the mid tone and highlight areas of the picture. There is usually no real or significant chance to real film speed, which is measured by the lowest shadow densities.
What happens if you expose and under develop?
If you expose normally and over develop, the image becomes much thicker. When printed, it appears as though you over exposed (or over developed) the image.
What is the inverse of development?
Another inverse mechanics of development, is temperature. The warmer your developer, the more active it is. The cooler, the less active it is. Therefore, given a normal exposure, but cold developer, you effectively under-develop the film. And a normal exposure with a hot developer, you end up over developing the negative, making it thicker. The inverse of temperature is therefore time. If you have a hot developer, you must cut your development time. Too hot, and you will get an effect called reticulation (a condition where the silver in the negative clumps up).
Is film development a chemical reaction?
The speed at which this particular chemical reaction, indeed most, if not all chemical reactions, proceeds is temperature dependent. Cooler temperatures slow it down. Higher temperatures speed it up.
Why does film lose shadow detail over time?
The loss of detail is only most notable in the shadows because there are few developable grains there in the first place.
How should I process old film?
10+-year-old film should be processed using a slightly different method than more recent film. There is the usual guideline of adding one stop of exposure per year, but that isn’t always true when developing film that has been shot a long time ago.
How should I store film after shooting?
Once you’ve shot a roll of film, it is best to store it in the same conditions that it was stored before shooting. So black and white film can be left at room temperature, while color film should be stored in the fridge.
How long does it take to fix a Kentmere film?
Some film products require a longer fixing time to others, but typically our ILFORD and Kentmere films will be fully fixed within 2-5 minutes.
What does it mean when a film is blank?
A completely blank film with no images and no signing (i.e text in the perforation areas showing product and numbers) - indicates the film has received no development at all.
Why does film have a moon shape?
Moon shaped or short straight marks randomly appearing in a processed film, are caused by the film being creased or kinked when it is being handled. This can occur when loading film onto a spiral for tank processing.
Why are my negatives denser than expected?
Processed exposed negatives that are denser than expected could be caused by too much exposure whilst in the camera. Possible caused a faulty meter or incorrect readings.
Why is my negative light so light?
Processed exposed negatives that are lighter than expected or too light to make acceptable prints could be caused by too little exposure in the camera. Possibly caused by a faulty meter or incorrect readings.
How to avoid film marks on spiral reels?
To help avoid these marks, take care to slowly load films onto the spiral reels and try not to force the film.
What does edge sign mean on a film?
Edge signing is visible but no images show on film. A film that shows no images, but still shows edge signing (i.e text in the perforation areas showing product and numbers) - indicates the film has not been loaded correctly in the camera, and has not advanced to enable any frames to be exposed. Blank negative - signing visible.
How long does it take to fix a negative film?
Generalizations regarding fix times: Papers 45 to 70 seconds - Negative film emulsions 2 to 7 minutes. Time in solution is variable based on the thickness of the emulsion.
Why is the rapid fix formula used?
Because its activity is very energetic, films and papers left in the fixer, particularly when fresh, begin to attach the silver that comprises the image. This effect is more prevalent with fine-grained films and the tufts of silver are petite.
Is the fixer critical or reactive?
But the fixer is reactive, and for prints that are meant to last more than a very short time, it's something you want to get rid of. Otherwise you'll get that loverly yellow/brown patina of age in a hurry without the bother of toning.
Can you see if a print has oxidized?
The answer is yes, although you must have left the prints in the fixer for quite a while to see the staining immediately. It's usually something that creeps in over time. It may be the case that your paper has oxidized from the edges inward before you used it, but you can check that by simply wasting a sheet and processing it "by the clock" (without exposing it, so you can eliminate as many variables as possible).
What happens if you leave hair dye in your hair for too long?
It all depends on which type you’ve used, so I’ll give you a rundown of the possibilities that could unfold.
How long does it take for box dye to deactivate?
This isn’t a good situation, but most box dyes are designed to deactivate after about 45 minutes. Even if you went over an hour, it wouldn’t be ideal, but you’d still have hair on your head. Will you like that hair anymore though? Probably not.
What happens when you put color on your hair?
When you pile on color to hair you’ve lightened or bleached, that hair is more porous so it’s not going to be as responsive to the dyes you use. One of two things will happen here. You’ll either have hair that is darker on your tips and lighter at the root.
What are the most common mistakes that hair stylists make?
One of them is that people assume that the at-home hair color they’ve selected will come out looking just like it does on the model on the box.
What to do if your hair isn't holding color?
If your hair isn’t holding the color from too much dyeing or washing, you might want to try using a protein filler. It helps lock in color for a bit longer, especially those permanent ones. This is a great solution if you don’t want to subject your hair to more damage. And believe me, you don’t.
What to do if you can't lock your hair?
But if you can’t lock anything into your strands, you might just want to make an appointment at your salon and get an expert’s opinion. Once you fix your hair, you’ll have more options. Speaking of fixing your hair, that’s where you should begin if you’ve accidentally damaged it by leaving hair dye in for too long.
When dyeing hair do you set a timer?
Always set a timer when you dye your hair so that when you busy yourself with chores, snacks, wedding prep, reading, or even getting lost in episodes of your favorite shows, you know when it’s time to wash it out!
