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How to Develop Film With Common Kitchen Liquids

For many photographers, developing film is an expensive part of the process. Although you can drop off your film at a photo lab, developing your pictures at home can save you time and money. Typically, photographers use chemicals that are specifically made for developing film. But you can use some kitchen liquids to produce photographs. You can use various substances, including cola drinks, tea and red wine, to develop silver-halide films. Instant coffee and vitamin C are two substances that can be combined to make a simple photograph developing formula.

Things You'll Need

4 teaspoons instant coffee
10 teaspoons sodium carbonate
1 quart tap water at room temperature
1 teaspoon vitamin C crystals
Photographer fixer
Exposed print
2 basins

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase your ingredients. Some health food stores carry vitamin C crystals. If you are not able to find vitamin C crystals, you can crush up vitamin C tablets.
- 2
  Combine the sodium carbonate with the tap water. Make sure you completely dissolve the sodium carbonate. Add the instant coffee to the mixture. After the coffee is dissolved, stir in the vitamin C.
- 3
  Place the mixture into a basin that is large enough to develop your photographs. The mixture will retain its power to develop photographs for 24 hours.
- 4
  Submerge the exposed print paper in the coffee and vitamin C mixture. Developing time will vary depending on the type of film you use. Try to leave the print in for 15 minutes at first and adjust as needed.
- 5
  Fill up the second basin with water to make a stop bath. Allow the print to remain in the stop bath for at least 30 seconds.
- 6
  Fix your photographs with a professional fixer. Allow your picture to set in the fixer for at least five minutes. Rinse your photographs under running water when done and hang to dry.

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