help for a first time dark room developer

[hmiranda]

Today was my first attempt at dark room developing which resulted in two separate rolls turning out with absolutely nothing on them -- just a few shades darker than undeveloped film. I diluted Ilfotec DD-X film developer 1+4 in the plastic film tank which was dutifully loaded in a dark room with light orangish darkroom light. First roll was left in for 10 minutes at 20 c with 30 sec of agitation per minute. followed with stop wash, fixer for 10 minutes, then water rinse and hypo clearing agent. Second role was black & white film taken today and did it for 7 minutes thinking we developed too long and same result.

After loading film in the tank in the room with orange light, we did all of the chemical adding and dumping in daylight. We obviously need a better book than we have to give us the basics. So if that is the easiest advice, please suggest something on that front. Many thanks.

 

[degruyl]

Today was my first attempt at dark room developing which resulted in two separate rolls turning out with absolutely nothing on them -- just a few shades darker than undeveloped film. I diluted Ilfotec DD-X film developer 1+4 in the plastic film tank which was dutifully loaded in a dark room with light orangish darkroom light.

I was searching the archives for something else, and came across your post.

The answer is NO light while loading film in the tank, in case you didn't figure it out already.

 

[marcr1230]

Yes - no light at all until the film is finished fixing

the agitation sounds like way too much, I do 3 inversions every 30 secs during development. But that shouldn't completely ruin the film.
Be careful that you use the chemicals in the correct order

 

[degruyl]

right: 1 minute continuous (controlled at about 1 inversion per second), 7-10 seconds per minute thereafter (which is about the same as you, only I get to read a page in whatever book I am reading). I adjust it, though. I was fixing the major problem. Nice catch.

 

[slm]

As the others have said, film needs to be loaded in complete darkness. You can use the films that didn't turn out to practice loading onto the reel and placing in the tank. Once the tank is shut tight, you can turn on the light. It's light safe.

After that, you first develop, then stop, then fix. Myself, I agitate the first min, then 5 secs every 30 secs afterwards. I usually use the dev times on the massive development chart.

Don't get discouraged, once you get the first one done correctly, it will be second nature. You'll be surprised how quick you get to working in total darkness, and how easily you adapt to seeing with your hands.

cheers
steven

 

[gdi]

Here are step by step instructions from Ilford, go to the Massive Dev Chart link above and adjust the instructions for time and temp - everything will work out.


http://www.ilfordphoto.com/applications/download.asp?n=386

 

[degruyl]

Wish I had those when I started, they are terrific.