Developing Film at Home with Paterson Tanks

Quick answer

The Paterson Multi-Reel 8 Tank (PTP118) makes home film processing straightforward. Follow these steps to load and develop 35mm film with consistent results.

Step-by-step: Developing film with the Paterson PTP118

1. Prepare your chemicals and workspace: Mix your developer, stop bath, and fixer according to their instructions. Set up a water bath to maintain temperature (usually 68°F/20°C). Ensure your tank, reels, and film are clean and dry. Temperature swings cause uneven development; keep all solutions within 1°F of target.
2. Load the film onto the reel in complete darkness: In a dark bag or darkroom, open the film canister, cut the leader, and feed the film onto the Paterson reel. The ratchet mechanism clicks as you advance; do not force it. Once loaded, place the reel into the tank and seal the lid. A common mistake is touching the film surface with fingers — oils can cause spots. Use gloves or handle only the edges.
3. Pre-wet the film: Pour water at the same temperature as your developer into the tank through the light trap. Agitate gently for 1 minute, then pour out. This removes anti-halation dyes and ensures even chemical absorption. Skipping pre-wet can lead to uneven development, especially with modern emulsions.
4. Add developer and agitate: Pour in the developer and start timing. Agitate continuously for the first 30 seconds (invert tank 4–5 times), then for 5 seconds every 30 seconds. Maintain temperature throughout. Over-agitation can cause surge marks; under-agitation leads to weak shadows. Stick to the recommended pattern.
5. Pour out developer and add stop bath: At the end of development time, pour out the developer. Immediately add stop bath (or water if using water stop) and agitate for 30–60 seconds. Pour out. Stop bath halts development instantly — do not skip it, or the developer continues working unevenly.
6. Fix the film: Add fixer and agitate according to your fixer's instructions (typically 5–10 minutes for rapid fixer). After fixing, you can open the tank — the film is no longer light-sensitive. Under-fixing leaves milky negatives; over-fixing can bleach the image. Use a fixer test strip if unsure.
7. Wash and dry: Wash the film with running water for 5–10 minutes (or use a hypo clearing agent). Add a few drops of wetting agent to the final rinse to prevent water spots. Hang to dry in a dust-free area. Dust on wet film is nearly impossible to remove — dry in a still, clean room or use a drying cabinet.

Product facts

• Paterson Multi-Reel 8 Developing Tank (Super System 4) PTP118: The Paterson Super System 4 Multi-Reel 5 Tank is constructed from high-impact polystyrene that stands up to high volume use. This tank has no hidden parts, and is always easy to keep clean. You can reuse the tank hundreds of times without worrying about cracks, and the lack of crevices means less risk of chemical residue affecting your next batch of film.