Black and White Photography

Before processing you must load the film onto a processing reel and place the

reel in a tank. You will then pour processing solutions in and out of that tank.

For some, the most difficult part of film developing is loading film onto the reel.

The rest of the process is fairly routine, but loading film does take getting used

to. And it can be frustrating.

The processing reel is basically a spiral that holds film. When properly loaded

onto the reel, no section of the film touches any other section, which allows

processing solutions to reach all parts of the film evenly. When improperly

loaded onto the reel, some sections of the film will stick together and will therefore

not develop.

Reels are made of either plastic or stainless steel. Each works a little differently,

but the principle is the same: You wind the film onto the reel until the

entire roll is loaded. When using a plastic reel, you slide the end of the film into

a slot on the outside of the spiral, then work the roll toward the middle of the

reel by ratcheting the sides of the reel back and forth in opposite directions.

When using a stainless steel reel, you insert the end of the film into the middle,

and then turn the entire reel in a circular motion so the spool of film unwinds

onto the spiral.

Remember that film is light sensitive, so you will have to load it in total darkness.

Buy a roll of film and practice with the lights on. Once you get the hang

of it, close your eyes and try again until you feel confident you can work in the

dark. Keep the used film around and practice with it from time to time.

Once you have loaded the film, place the reel in the processing tank and

attach the lighttight top. Then you are ready for processing. If you use a plastic

reel, you will need a plastic tank; if your reel is stainless steel, you will need

a stainless steel tank. The two types are not compatible.

Loading Reels: Step by Step

Before you begin loading film onto a processing reel, check the room to make

sure it is lighttight. Gang darkrooms often have dedicated film-loading rooms

for just this purpose. If you are working at home or elsewhere use any room

you can make lighttight, such as a closet, bathroom, or some other small, windowless

space. Turn off the lights and check for any light leaking in. If there are

light leaks, block them. You can shove a towel against the bottom of the door

if the light is coming from there (and it often is). If it’s coming from some other

source, you may have to tape up or otherwise block it out. When you are ready

to load your film, follow these steps:

Plastic Reels and Tanks

1. With lights on, clear off a counter top, making sure it is dry and clean. 2. Arrange your film and all the needed equipment on the counter, so you can find everything when the lights go out. Aside from your film, you will need reels, a processing tank, a bottle opener, and a pair of scissors. Make sure the processing tank is open and ready to receive the reels after they are loaded with film. 3. Open the film cassette. Use the bottle opener to lift off the end of the cassette; you can open either end, but the flat end (not the one with the film spool protruding) usually lifts off most easily. 4. Push the spool holding the film out of the cassette. The film is tightly wound onto the spool, so it may unravel when removed from the cassette. You will have an easier time handling the film if it doesn’t unravel, so tuck the spool in the palm of your hand to try to prevent this. But if it does unravel, don’t panic; you can still successfully load the film onto the reel. 5. Cut off the film leader, the half-width curved tab at the end of the film, preferably between sprockets, so the end is as straight and even as possible. It is possible to load film without cutting off the leader, but it is easier if you do make the cut—and the film is less likely to jam as it loads onto the reel. 6. Hold the spool of film in the palm of one hand, with the end of the film between your thumb and forefinger. The film will naturally curve toward its emulsion side. While holding the film by the edges, pinch it slightly to produce a very gentle curve with the emulsion side facing down. This may feel a little awkward and take some getting used to. Use whichever hand feels most comfortable. 7. With your other hand, pick up the plastic reel and position it so the open slot located on the outer rim of the reel faces the film. 8. Insert the cut end of the film into the slot so that the emulsion side faces the center of the reel. 9. Gently push the film into the slot until you feel its sprocket holes engage with ball bearings inside the rim of the reel. The ball bearings help pull the film into the reel in subsequent steps. Hold the reel in both hands. It’s okay if it hangs loose, but try to keep it from touching the floor rrubbingagainst the counter’s edge.10. Rotate the sides of the reel back and forth in a ratchetlike movement, in opposite directions. This movement, with the help of the ball bearings, pulls the film into the reel. Stop when you reach the end of the roll. 11. Remove the spool from the end of the film. The film is usually attached with tape so cut it off with a pair of scissors. Make the cut close to the tape so you don’t cut into the last exposure on the roll.