An Introduction to Film Developers Part I

Part of the joy of black and white film photography is experimenting with the various combinations of different developers and film to accomplish varying effects. Just like how an artist chooses his medium to best execute his work, a photographer also chooses the right combination of developer and film to best represent the image he has in mind.

Film and Developer Combinations

Choosing a film developer for the first timer can be very daunting, especially with the number of developers in the market, but not necessary. As a general guideline, you may adhere to the following:

• If you want to emphasise minute detail, use a high definition developer.
• To cope with extremes of contrast, a compensating developer can help.
• To boost the contrast of a flat object, use a energetic developer.
• For maximum economy, use a universal developer.
• If maximum quality even in broad areas of mid-tones is desired, a fine-grain developer can be used.
• For convenience, use a monobath.

Certain developers are created specifically for films from the same manufacturer. By adhering to the instructions given by the manufacturer, specific and consistent results can be achieved. A good combination to start is Kodak Tri-X and D-76 for 9.5mins (1+1 Dilution) as it is very forgiving.

It is very tempting to try out different combinations at the start of your photographic journey but I strongly recommend getting really acquainted with one film and developer combination before moving on to the next. This will help grow the habit of consistency and help you troubleshoot a negative if required. (Future article - Negative Troubleshooting)

Once you are ready to try out other combinations, Digital Truth maintains a database called the Massive Dev Chart which has a large list of user submitted times for various developer and film combinations.

For more in depth information on how the components of developers and how you can mix your own, read An Introduction to Film Developers Part II.