Developing XP2 or 400CN at home?

These films have a fundamentally different structure and chemistry than silver-halide B&W films like Tri-X or Plus-X. They use small clouds of dye to form an image and are essentially the same as color films. They require a C41 process which a) is much more toxic than traditional B&W developing, 2) requires a consistently high temperature (circa. 100 F/40 C) throughout the process, and 3) is not economical in small batches. Bessler and others used to market a home-process kit that would allow you to do this at home. I have done it in a college darkroom on a municipal sewer, but I wouldn't want to pour C41 bleach/fix into a septic system.

My advice? Head for your local one hour photo-finisher. The poor guy probably needs the business badly.

Ben Marks
 
angeloks said:
Hi,

Are there any ways to develop chromogenic film at home? I read that it won't work with HC110... Any simple way to do this? Or not really...

Thanks,

I have developed XP2 in D76, Rodinal and Diafine. D76 and Diafine both have "official" times. Results are decent.

Can post some samples when I get home.
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