Darkroom development may not be quite as prevalent these days, but it remains an enjoyable artistic process that any photographer can practice. If you’ve never tried developing your film or photographic prints in a dark room, the first step is acquiring all the specialized black-and-white darkroom chemicals involved in the process.
Black and White Chemicals for Darkroom Use
When developing film negatives and prints, the primary black-and-white chemicals you’ll need are developer, stop bath, and fixer. Wetting agent is useful in the film developing process, too, and it helps you avoid water spots on your negatives. Wash aid, also known as fixer remover and clearing agent, is another helpful solution for fully removing the fixer from your prints and negatives.
Powder vs Liquid Photo Developing Chemicals
When buying developing chemicals (either in bulk or in small quantities), you can choose between liquid chemicals and powdered versions. Liquid chemicals typically come in a concentrated form, so you’ll need to add water to achieve the correct strength.
Many photographers prefer powdered chemicals for darkroom development because they’re more compact for storage, easier and less expensive to ship, and have a longer shelf life.
Liquid chemicals are often best for darkroom beginners because they offer a smaller learning curve for correct use.
Darkroom Developer and Developing Chemicals for Alternative Processes
Not all types of film and printing use the same set of chemicals. If you’re working with cyanotype, Van Dyke brown, platinum and palladium, kallitype printing, or another alternative process, you’ll need specialized chemicals for your darkroom.
Which Black and White Film Developing Chemicals Can You Reuse?
When developing black-and-white film and prints, some of your chemicals are reusable while others, like developer, become inert in between darkroom sessions. You can reuse your stop bath as long as it’s still acidic enough to function. You can also reuse fixer if you store it in an airtight container.
The Black and White Chemicals Your Need for Long-Lasting Prints
Developing your own film and prints is a fun activity that becomes even more rewarding after a bit of practice. Look to brands like Ilford, Kodak, Photographers’ Formulary, and Sprint for top-of-the-line, reliable chemicals for the darkroom. By using professional, archival-grade black-and-white chemicals from these companies, your prints will look better and last longer.
