How to Develop Film Without a Darkroom

Locate a room to use for developing. Since you will need access to water, and running water is the best, a laundry room, kitchen or bathroom are ideal locations since they will typically have a sink with hot and cold water. Clear or set up a small table to work on.

Load the film in a developing tank. This step must be performed in complete darkness or the film will be fogged and images on it ruined by the exposure to light. As a result, most of this step must be done by feel. Changing bags, sold by camera stores, are the best to use since they are designed with two arms and a center working space, all sewn shut to keep light out. Slip your arms in the two ends with the canister, reel and roll of film. Take the film out of its container, roll it onto a reel, put it into the canister and place the lid on tightly. Now you can bring the canister out into the light.

Add the developer. The chemical comes in a powder. Mix the correct amount based on the container directions in water and place it in a plastic bottle. Pour the developer in the tank with the film. Replace the lid and gently shake for nine minutes. Use a timer for exact measurement. Too little or too much time in the developer can result in under or overexposed film. Check the directions for exact times on the film type you are using.

Rinse with water. This step is also known as the stop bath because you are stopping the developer from developing the film. Pour the developer out into another container that can be disposed of. Do not pour it down the drain. Rinse in running water that is 68 degrees F. Use a thermometer to get the correct temperature and rinse for one minute.

Pour the water out and add the fixer, which is sold in either powder or liquid form. Invert the tank slowly to cover all the film for approximately 10 seconds, then stop. Do it again at the beginning of each minute for a total of four minutes.

Pour out the fixer and rinse with water, using the same temperature as above. Agitate, pour out, and repeat two or three times to get all of the fixer off the film.

Add a few drops of a wetting agent to prevent water spots on the film. Fill the tank with water. Agitate for one minute and pour out.

Hang the film up to dry in a shower stall, careful to not touch the emulsion. Use a clothes pin to pin the edge to a clothes hanger and roll it out, allowing it to dry for one hour.