Photo-flo helps prevent the water spots by reducing the surface tension of the water and acting as a neutral detergent. Since you don’t want to try to polish the water spots off of negatives the way you would off a wine glass, photo-flo is a good choice. … It also helps smooth out airbrushing water-based paints.

Besides, How long does it take to get Hypoclear?

Although Kodak says you can use Hypo Clear and then wash for only five minutes, washing a bit longer will not do any damage. Your final soak in distilled water to get rid of the tap water minerals can simply be extended to a few minutes and give you an extra bit of wash.

Keeping this in mind, What can I use instead of photo Flo? Photo-flo is just a basic wetting agent (or nonionic surfactant if we’re being fancy). Essentially, that’s just a kind of detergent, so look for a household detergent type product that says it contains a wetting agent, and use that – in a *very* weak solution. Yeah very diluted dish washing liquid would work…or…

Can you use photo Flo on color negatives?

Photoflo is a super concentrated pure soap, safe to use on any negative. I use it with color, B&W and transparencies, never a problem.

What is Photoflow?

Photoflow is nothing more than a wetting agent or surfactant. A single drop is more than enough. You can use a tiny, tiny dab of dishwater detergent which has the same effect. It makes water more “runny” and less likely to stick to things. When used on film, it reduces the liklihood of water spots.

How long do you stop bath?

The time in the stop bath is not critical but it must be at least 10 seconds.

What is in a stop bath?

Stop bath is a chemical used for processing black-and-white photographic films, plates, and paper. It is used to neutralize the alkaline developer, thus halting development. Stop bath is commonly a 2% dilution of acetic acid in water, though a 2.5% solution of potassium or sodium metabisulfite works just as well.

What are the procedure of developing a film?


Developing film at home requires precision and practice, but if you follow the right steps, you’ll find the process rewarding.

  • Place equipment into the changing bag. …
  • Open your film canister. …
  • Feed the film into your reel. …
  • Load the film reel into the developing tank. …
  • Mix your chemicals. …
  • Pour your developer into the tank.

Is photo Flo the same as wetting agent?

This 16 oz bottle of Kodak Photo-Flo 200 Solution is a wetting agent used to minimize water marks or streaks during film development. It is used after the final wash when processing films to decrease the water-surface tension and promote faster, more uniform drying.

How do you use Ilfotol?

You should use it as a final rinse before you hang your film up to dry. It will allow the film to dry in a more uniform fashion and thus prevent the marks. After development, stop, fix and wash, you simply leave your film in the wetting agent for about a minute.

What is chemical wetting?

wetting agent, also called surfactant, chemical substance that increases the spreading and penetrating properties of a liquid by lowering its surface tension—that is, the tendency of its molecules to adhere to each other.

Does photo Flo work with color film?

Modern color emulsions no longer need the dye stabilizing act of the formalin, but they do need the antiseptic properties. Color films dried with only photoflo will not be resistant to bacteria in fungus.

Is stabilizer the same as photo Flo?

It’s a combination of a wetting agent and a hardener. Photo-Flo is just a wetting agent, You could replace stabilizer with Photo-Flo and formaldehyde, if you really wanted to.

Can you use photo Flo on c41?

This isn’t a problem for B&W because photo flo is magic and makes all water spots go away. It is a problem for C-41 though. The 3 min wash just isn’t feasible in distilled water so I need to use tap water.

How long should a print stay in the stop bath?

Stop Bath:

Put your print in stop bath for about 30 seconds, as you do with RC paper. Fixing: Fix your print for at least 4-5 minutes.

Is stop bath necessary?

You don’t need to use a stop bath when developing film. But using a stop bath is recommended because it immediately arrests development and protects the integrity of your fixer, which requires an acidic solution to function. … Stop bath is necessary for most black and white films and papers when using Rapid Fixer.

How does a stop bath work?

A stop bath is used to halt the developing process to prevent the picture from getting darker. Fixer then makes the image permanent and light-resistant by dissolving any remaining silver halide salts. … The most common chemicals typically used for stop baths are acetic acid or citric acid.

How toxic is stop bath solution?

Stop Bath solutions and powders are often highly acidic and are moderately to highly toxic. The most common chemicals typically used for stop baths are acetic acid or citric acid. The acids commonly found in stop baths can cause dermatitis and skin ulceration and can severely irritate the respiratory system.

How do you mix a stop bath?

To prepare your stop bath, dilute Kodak Indicator Stop Bath 1+63. That means one part stop to sixty-three parts water. The dilution is the same for both paper and film processing. Make sure you mix together thoroughly before use.

Can you use vinegar as a stop bath?

White distilled vinegar, the stuff you buy in the US is usually 5% but in other countries the concentration can be higher. Use it at 1.5-2% for prints and use a plain water stop bath for film. As others have said the savings are pretty small but in a pinch I have used it. It works very well.

What is the process of developing photos?

There are three key steps involved in making a photograph: exposing the film to light, developing the image, and printing the photograph.

How do you make a film developer?

In one container, mix 12 oz of tap water (room temp), ¾ tsps vitamin C powder (1000mg), 5 tsps instant coffee crystals (cannot be decaf), 3.5 tsps washing soda. Stir until all powder and crystals dissolve.

What is photo wetting agent?

Wetting-agent is a very strong but pure detergent. Its purpose is to break the surface tension of the water and allow it to run off the surface of the film without hanging in drops. Drops of water hanging on the film will cause horseshoe-shaped water marks which cannot be removed.

Is stabilizer a wetting agent?

END RUN Wetting Agent & Stabilizer

END RUN Wetting Agent & Stabilizer is a unique final-step solution for all film and print processes. As a wetting agent, it lubricates to reduce scratching when wet, and promotes even drying without water spots or streaks.

How do you mix Photoflo?

Use 2 ml of Photo Flo 200 in 400 ml of water and this should fill most tanks for film development. Your bottle will last you probably your entire life. Mixed Photo Flo can go bad due to growth of bateria and fungi.